This invention relates to a self sealing non-latex balloon and a method for manufacturing such balloons to incorporate an electronics device, such as a device comprising a light emitting diode and power supply for same.
Non-latex balloons of the type comprising two flexible sheets of plastics material which are sealed together around their periphery in a variety of shapes and have a neck (also referred to as a stem) defining an opening for inflation of the balloon, typically by helium, are extremely popular. One or both of the sheets may be decorated or metallised. U.S. Pat. No. 4,917,646 discloses a self sealing valve in the form of a simple passageway provided between two elongate strips of plastics material which are sealed within the neck of the balloon during manufacture and extend into the space within the balloon. A bonding barrier, which may be provided by a coating on one of the strips, ensures that the passageway is kept open at the inlet during the heat sealing operation. The passageway may be narrowed by convergence between the lines of seal at the respective sides of the passageway, either at one or both sides, for example by a stepped or sloping section of one or both lines of seal, so that the size of the outlet from the valve into the space within the balloon is less than that of the inlet to the valve in the neck of the balloon. Such valves allow inflation of the balloon, but tend to closure so as to prevent escape of gas from the balloon, or at least allow escape of gas at such a reduced rate that the balloon will remain inflated for a sufficient length of time as required by the user, for example at least 24 hours. This is sufficient bearing in mind that such balloons are used mostly for celebratory and party purposes. Most commercially available balloons of this type incorporate this simple self sealing valve arrangement.
Various proposals have been made, for example in U.S. Pat. No. 5,795,211, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,947,581, in US 2002/0164919, in US 2004/0127138 and in WO 2005/103557 for mounting light emitting devices, specifically light emitting diodes (LEDs) within such balloons, in order to enhance the attractiveness of same. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,795,211, one or more LEDs are attached by adhesive tape to an inner surface of one of the sheets forming the balloon and connected to a battery power source located outside the balloon by way of a pair of flat conductor leads which are embedded in a strip of polyethylene and extend through the neck of the balloon. The polyethylene strip is heat sealed in the neck of the balloon alongside an elongate self-sealing inflation valve of the type described above. In US 2004/0127138 an assembly including an LED, a power supply cell, an electric circuit connecting the cell and the LED and a switch in the circuit, is suspended centrally within the space within the balloon by being mounted upon a strip of plastics material, one end of which is bonded between the respective sheets forming the balloon at one point around their periphery. In the other prior proposals just mentioned, the LED is part of a device which is adhered at a location within the space of the balloon to one of the respective sheets forming the balloon. Such mounting is likely to complicate the production of such balloons and they may not be economically viable.
An object of the present invention is to provide a method of incorporating an LED device or other electronic device into this type of non-latex balloon which does not require significant deviation from the methodology of conventional mass production of such balloons, and requires minimal or no additional assembly steps and is therefore cost-effective.
In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a self-sealing, non-latex balloon having a body and a stem comprising, in combination: a first balloon sheet having an interior surface and a periphery; a second balloon sheet bonded to the periphery of the interior surface of the first balloon sheet so as to define the body and the stem; a self sealing valve comprising first and second flexible plastics strips bonded to each other to define an elongate passageway, said valve having a first floating portion within the body and a second portion which is bonded within the stem and defines an inlet; and an LED or a sound source mounted in the balloon, between the first and second balloon sheets; which is characterised in that the LED or sound source is part of an electronic unit mounted inside the balloon in or adjacent the stem of the balloon, said unit also including a battery source for the LED or sound source and a displaceable actuator to connect the LED or sound source to the power source, and in that said unit is secured to the valve by an attachment cover which is bonded to at least one of the strips of the valve and is also bonded within the stem of the balloon.
In accordance with a second aspect of the invention there is provided a corresponding method of production of a self-sealing, non-latex balloon having a body and a stem defined by a first balloon sheet bonded to a periphery of a second balloon sheet, said method comprising the steps of: forming a self sealing valve by bonding first and second flexible plastic strips to each other to define an elongate passageway having an inlet and outlet; providing an electronic unit comprising an LED or sound source, a battery power source for the LED or sound source and a displaceable actuator to connect the LED or sound source to the power source;positioning the electronic unit to overlie the second flexible plastic strip with the displaceable actuator extending towards the inlet of the valve; placing an attachment cover to overlie the electronic unit and bonding the attachment cover to the second flexible plastic strip so as to secure the unit thereto; positioning the bonded valve and electronic unit between in register first and second balloon sheets in the vicinity of the stem so that the electronic unit is located just beyond the stem between body portions of the balloon sheets and the displaceable actuator extends into the stem; and bonding the first and second balloon sheets together and to said valve and said attachment cover so that the valve has a first floating portion within the body of the balloon and a second portion bonded to the balloon stem.
In preferred embodiments of the balloon and its production method in accordance with the present invention the first and second flexible plastics strips of the valve and the attachment cover are configured to have winged portions which are aligned and bonded to each other. In this way a particularly reliable bonding between the attachment cover and one of the flexible plastic strips can be achieved.
Furthermore, the first and second balloon sheets are advantageously configured with enlargements adjacent the stem of the balloon to accommodate said winged portions of the valve and the attachment cover. Not only do these enlargements strengthen the balloon body in the vicinity of the incorporation of the electronic unit, they also most advantageously provide means of locating the combined valve and electronic unit during and after production of the balloon.
The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
A known self-sealing, non-latex balloon, as shown in
When the first and second balloon sheets 10, 12, are bonded together the heat sealing stamp also bonds the respective strips of the valve there between where the stem 16 merges into the body 14 of the balloon. A barrier coating 29 on one of these strips prevents heat sealing at the inlet 23. The balloon is inflated by insertion of a nozzle into the stem 16 and into the inlet 23 so that a gas such as air, or preferably helium, is supplied into the body of the balloon via the passageway 21. Once the balloon is fully inflated and the nozzle removed, the passageway 21 closes automatically due to the length of the valve 20 and the material of which it is made and there is little tendency for gas to flow out of the balloon body 14. Therefore, although the stem 16 of the balloon may be tethered, there is no requirement for tight tying off. The balloon will generally remain inflated to a reasonable degree for 24 to 48 hours at least.
Referring now to
In
As shown in
Then, in a further manufacturing step, the integrated (bonded) valve and electronic unit 20, 4 is introduced between the first and second balloon sheets 10, 12. In this preferred embodiment, these sheets 10, 12 are formed with respective bulges 1, 6 where the stem 16 merges to the body 14 of the balloon. These bulges 1, 6 are of substantially the same shape and size as the wings 32, 33, 34 of the integrated valve/LED unit and are brought in register with these wings, as shown at the right-hand end of
As shown in
It will be appreciated that in use of the balloon the step of illumination of the balloon is completely independent of the step of inflation of the balloon. Accordingly, balloons can be inflated and positioned in advance of an event and illuminated only at the time required, thus prolonging the possible period of illumination, which is limited by the power of the batteries 41.
In a modified version, the attachment cover 5 may extend to cover the LED 40 in order to achieve more secure bonding of the unit 4 to the valve 20. The attachment cover 5 would, of course, in that case be transparent or substantially transparent.
In another modified version, in place of the tab 8, a displaceable switch may be provided which would not be removable but would allow the LED to be switched off and on.
In yet other embodiments of the balloon of the invention an electronic unit incorporating a sound source instead of or in addition to an LED may be provided so that a sound or tune may be emitted upon removal of the tab or displacement of a switch to energise the sound source.
Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the words “comprise” and “contain” and variations of them mean “including but not limited to”, and they are not intended to (and do not) exclude other components or steps. Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the singular encompasses the plural unless the context otherwise requires. In particular, where the indefinite article is used, the specification is to be understood as contemplating plurality as well as singularity, unless the context requires otherwise.
Features described in conjunction with a particular embodiment or example of the invention are to be understood to be applicable to any other embodiment or example described herein unless incompatible therewith. The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment. The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of the method herein disclosed.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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0914336.3 | Aug 2009 | GB | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/GB2010/051289 | 8/4/2010 | WO | 00 | 2/17/2012 |