Patent Application
20140248819
This invention resides generally in the field of balloon displays and, in one embodiment, resides in the art of balloon displays that are suitable for displaying a single balloon on the end of a stick. In other embodiments, the present invention resides in the field of balloon weights that are selectively filled with material to provide the mass necessary to restrain a plurality of balloons mounted on sticks.
Due to an increased demand for helium, it is becoming difficult to offer helium-filled balloons at prices agreeable to potential balloon consumers. Only a small percentage of the global helium supply is purchased for use in filing balloons, while a much larger percentage (and rising) is purchased for use in other applications, such as cooling the magnets of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machines. The MRI industry and others industries willing and capable of purchasing helium at high prices are beginning to drive helium prices beyond what the balloon industry can bear.
As helium prices increase, helium-filled balloon prices increase, and helium-filled balloon demand decreases. Because the lighter-than-air characteristics of a helium-filled balloon are important to the balloon consumer, a suitable substitute should simulate some of the floating, bobbing and weaving characteristics of lighter-than-air balloons. To help simulate some of the characteristics mentioned above of lighter-than-air balloons, the non-helium-filled balloon's can be attached to and held upright by a stick such that the balloon and the stick can be carried around by an individual or set up for a more stationary display, much like a balloon on a string might be carried around or secured to something stationary for display. Therefore there exists a need in the art for a more universal balloon weight (or balloon display) and method that permits a balloon stick and a balloon weight to be used for any given display and display concept.
A first embodiment of the invention provides a balloon display unit comprising: a balloon and a balloon pedestal including: a base, and a balloon stick receiving structure extending from said base, the balloon stick receiving structure including: a male mounting structure defining an outside mounting periphery, and a female mounting structure defining an inside mounting periphery, wherein the inside mounting periphery of the female mounting structure is shaped to selectively engage a outside periphery of a first balloon stick and thereby secure said first balloon stick to said balloon pedestal, and wherein the outside mounting periphery of the male mounting structure is shaped to receive a inside periphery of a second balloon stick and thereby secure said second balloon stick to said balloon pedestal; and wherein one of said first balloon stick or said second balloon stick has said balloon secured thereto and is engaged with said balloon stick receiving structure.
A second embodiment provides a balloon display unit as in the first embodiment, further comprising a means for securing said base of said balloon pedestal to a surface.
A third embodiment provides a balloon display unit as in either of the first or second embodiments, wherein said means for securing said base is selected from the group consisting of a snap fit system, a adhesive system and a magnet system.
A fourth embodiment provides a balloon display unit as in any of the first through third embodiments, wherein said means for attachment is a pressure sensitive adhesive.
A fifth embodiment provides a balloon display unit as in any of the first through fourth embodiments, wherein said balloon is a non-helium filled balloon.
A sixth embodiment provides a balloon display comprising: a display base having a mounting surface; and a balloon display unit secured to said mounting surface, said balloon display unit comprising: a balloon pedestal including: a base, and a balloon stick receiving structure extending from said base, the balloon receiving structure including a male mounting structure defining an outside mounting periphery and a female mounting structure defining an inside mounting periphery, a balloon stick engaged with one of said outside or inside mounting peripheries; and a non-helium filled balloon secured to said balloon stick.
A seventh embodiment provides a balloon display as in the sixth embodiment, wherein said mounting surface is a top mounting surface opposite a base of the display base, the mounting surface including and opening and the display base including a cap, said cap selectively closing off said opening to close access to the interior volume of said container, wherein the interior volume is selectively filled with a mass to weigh down said container.
An eight embodiment provides a balloon display as in either of the sixth or seventh embodiments, wherein the top mounting surface has pre-determined pedestal receipts to receive balloon pedestals.
A ninth embodiment provides a balloon display as in either of the sixth through eighth embodiments, wherein the cap has the ability to receive a balloon pedestal.
A tenth embodiment provides a balloon display as in any of the sixth through ninth embodiments, wherein the opening is defined in said top mounting surface.
A eleventh embodiment provides a balloon display as in any of the sixth through tenth embodiments, wherein the means of securing the non-helium filled balloon is by way of a balloon cup
A twelfth embodiment provides a balloon display comprising: a display base, at least one balloon pedestal, at least one balloon stick, and at least one non-helium filled balloon; wherein the at least one non-helium filled balloon is secured to the at least one balloon stick; wherein the at least one balloon stick is received by the at least one balloon pedestal, and wherein the at least one balloon pedestal is attached to the display base.
A thirteenth embodiment provides a balloon display as in the twelfth embodiment, wherein the balloon display base comprises: a container having a top surface with a open end opposite a base, said open end providing access to an interior volume of said container; and a cap, said cap closing off access to the interior volume of said container; wherein the interior volume of the container has the ability to be filled with a mass to weigh down said container; and wherein the top surface has the ability to receive multiple balloon pedestals.
A fourteenth embodiment provides a balloon display as in either the twelfth or thirteenth embodiment, wherein the at least one balloon pedestal comprises: a pedestal base; and a balloon receiving structure; wherein the balloon receiving structure comprises: a male mounting structure; and a female mounting structure; wherein the pedestal base includes a means of attaching the balloon pedestal to the top surface of a container; wherein a inside mounting periphery of the female mounting structure is shaped to selectively engage a outside periphery of a first balloon stick; and wherein a outside mounting diameter of the male mounting structure is shaped to selectively engage a inside periphery of a second balloon stick.
A fifteenth embodiment provides a balloon display as in any of the twelfth through fourteenth embodiments, wherein the balloon pedestal can be attached to the top surface of the container by the means of attachment chose from the group consisting of a snap fit system, a adhesive system and a magnet system.
A sixteenth embodiment provides a balloon display as in any of the twelfth through fifteenth embodiments, wherein the means of attachment is a pressure sensitive adhesive.
A seventeenth embodiment provides a balloon display as in any of the twelfth through sixteenth embodiments, wherein the means of securing the non-helium filled balloon to the balloon stick is by way of a balloon cup.
A eighteenth embodiment provides a balloon display as in any of the twelfth through seventeenth embodiments, wherein the top surface of the container has pre-determined pedestal receipts to receive balloon pedestals.
A nineteenth embodiment provides a balloon display as in any of the twelfth through eighteenth embodiments, wherein the cap has the ability to receive a balloon pedestal.
a is a side elevational view thereof, shown employing a first type of securing means;
b is a side elevational view thereof, shown a pressure sensitive adhesive type securing means;
a is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a first stick engaging the balloon pedestal;
b is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a second stick engaging the balloon pedestal;
The present invention provides a fillable balloon weight and balloon pedestal display for the purpose of displaying one or more non-helium filled balloons. Referring now to
As shown in the cross section of
As shown in
In
As shown in
In one embodiment, when the securing means 22 is a magnet, the pedestal 10 can be secured to any magnetic metal surface. In another embodiment, when the securing means 22 is an adhesive system, the pedestal 10 can be secured to anything that the adhesive system is capable of adhering to. In another embodiment, where the sercuring means 22 is a snap-fit system, the base 12 of the balloon pedestal 10 fits into a receptacle through a snap-fit engagement that resists easy removal of the pedestal 10. In yet another embodiment, one or more of a balloon display unit 50 of this invention can be mounted to a portable display base to provide a balloon display, as will be next described. By “portable” it is meant that the base can be readily carried around by an individual. It is not sufficient for purposes of satisfying the term “portable” that something is merely capable of being transported from one place to another. “Portable” connotes that the item is readily capable of and intended to be easily moved by an individual from one location to another.
Referring now to
A second embodiment of a display base is shown in
In some embodiments, the display bases 100 and 200 are made of a clear plastic or other clear material such that the mass weighing down either display base 100 or 200 may be viewed. In yet another embodiment, the display bases 100 and 200 are made of a colored plastic or other colored material which is transparent such that the mass weighing down either display base 100 or 200 may be viewed In particular embodiments, they are made from clear polyethylene teraphthalate (PET). The mass used to weigh down the display bases (if necessary) can be anything from water, rocks, coins, sand or any item providing mass. In other embodiments, the display bases are opaque, and in yet other embodiments they are made from a biodegradable/compostable plastic like PLA (polylactic acid) or from olefins such as polypropylene, polyethylene, and polycarbonate. In particular embodiments, the mass is candy or some other novelty or gift item that may be generally associated with parties and celebrations that are often decorated with balloons. The mass is preferably made up of multiple small items or other materials that can be used to fill the display bases to a selected degree, thus affecting a selected mass and decorative effect. When empty, the display bases 100 or 200 are low in weight such that transport costs are low and they can be made to be high in weight when filled with a mass. In a particular embodiment, when empty, the display bases 100 or 200 weigh about 30-grams and weighs around 600-grams when filled with water.
In accordance with this invention, one or more balloon display units such as unit 50 may be secured to a selected display base, such as either base 100 or base 200 to create a balloon display. Herein, an embodiment employing display base 200 is focused upon; though it will be readily apparent how a balloon display could be formed using the display base 100. Referring now to
Notably, display base 100 would be employed in much the same way, though pre-defined pedestal receipts would not be used. Instead, the pedestals would be secured at the user's choice. Also, the caps such as 110 and 210 may be avoided in some embodiments, the balloon base just providing a mounting surface for pedestals bases.
In light of the foregoing, it should be appreciated that the present invention significantly advances the art by providing a fillable balloon weight and balloon pedestal display 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.
