Patent Application
20170144077
Generally, the inventive technology disclosed herein relates to a novel and unique modular balloon support system. In a preferred embodiment, the invention may be used to create geometric and other patterned balloon displays. Such geometric clusters or constructs may be customizable to generate multiple shapes, designs and configurations for marketing, advertising or even decorative purposes. This inventive technology may be particularly suited for helium-free balloons and other marketing display systems that are positioned outside commercial establishments to attract attention and/or highlight a specific promotion or event. In certain embodiments, such assemblies may mimic the action and presentation of traditional helium balloons and the like.
Traditional external marketing assemblies are commonly employed to promote various commercial or organizational interests as well as events. For example, traditional external marketing devices may include some type of large object, such as signs, placards or novelty attention-grabbing devices that may be placed outside to catch a passerby's attention thereby promoting a certain business or event. In recent years, various inflatable external marketing devices have been deployed as marketing devices to attract public attention. Example of such air-filled based systems may include external balloon systems, as well as large inflatable figures or structures. Despite their use, such large inflatable devices have several drawbacks that limit their uses. First, traditional large inflatable devices are typically expensive and simply not cost effective for most businesses to purchase for a specific promotion or event. As a result, most traditional large inflatable devices must be rented for short periods of time. This also limits the ability to personalize any large inflatable devices for a specific event or promotion.
Second, traditional large inflatable devices must be constantly re-inflated through one or more air pumps and/or blowers. Because of their dependence on such constant re-inflation, use of such large inflatable devices is limited by their access to adequate electrical power to re-inflate the devices. Moreover, the electrical costs can also be prohibitive over a long course of time further limiting the large inflatable devices' ability to be deployed for an extended period of time.
Third, traditional helium-based large inflatable devices are not cost effective. For example, a lack of private sector helium producers, federal regulations and decline in U.S. Federal Helium Reserves have resulted in significant price increases and dwindling supplies of commercially available helium. Much of the available helium gas is currently being diverted to industrial and/or medical uses, such as MRI's, cryogenic preservation as well as scientific applications such as particle accelerators. Under these conditions, it is simply not cost effective to continue production of helium-dependent inflatable marketing systems.
Fourth, such traditional balloon display systems lack inexpensive and easily assembled modular functional elements that allow for the creation of various geometric shapes and arrangements allowing for a variety of public presentations. In addition, such traditional systems are limited in their ability to be positioned, such as from elevated or irregular surfaces. In addition, such traditional systems may be typically suited for only a single environment, such as strictly indoors or outdoors.
Fifth, traditional systems also typically require any corresponding balloon elements to be inflated separately prior to incorporation into a display. Such individual inflation or deflation may limit the number and complexity of the presentation.
As can be seen, there is a need for a single comprehensive solution to the limitations described above. The current invention overcomes these limitations of, and indeed surpasses the functionality of such traditional external balloon assemblies. It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a simple, versatile, easily-inflatable, modular, cost effective balloon display support system that may be compatible with a variety of attachment surfaces and may be used both inside and outdoors as well as having the ability to be internally and/or externally inflated. In addition, such assembly may be configured to support larger and heavier balloons while still providing the aesthetic appearance and motion of a lighter than air display. Accordingly, the objects of the methods and apparatus described herein address each of the aforementioned problems and goals in a practical manner. Naturally, further objects of the inventive technology will become apparent from the description and drawings below.
The inventive technology may generally include various embodiments of a modular balloon support system. In one embodiment one or more connectors may be secured together and further coupled with a manifold. In one embodiment this manifold may secure one or more balloons through an integral or modular balloon attachment. In some embodiments each manifold may include a valve housing that may hold one or more valves in fluid communication with a balloon attachment through one or more internal airways. In other embodiments, a connector, or series of connectors, may be coupled with a proximal and/or terminal adaptor which may each include a surface attachment position or even a balloon attachment position. The positioning and number of the aforementioned elements may allow for the formation of balloon clusters and/or entire displays having customized shapes, colors and orientations. Such balloon clusters may be secured to a variety of surfaces, whether as a single or plurality of modular elements, allowing further customization. In some instances, seamed and/or seamless helium-free balloons, such as those described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/201,665, (which is incorporated herein in its entirety) may be utilized.
The inventive technology may further include one or more modular manifolds, again having one or more integral and/or detachable balloon attachments that may secure a balloon element. In this embodiment a plurality of manifolds may be coupled together allowing the formation of a customizable balloon cluster. Further embodiments may include a variety of secondary balloon attachments that may be secured with, or coupled to, one or more modular manifolds allowing further customizable balloon clusters and displays.
Additionally, the inventive technology may include a variety of modular external surface mounts. Such mounts may be secured to an external surface and further coupled to one or more manifolds, modular manifolds, secondary balloon attachments or other modular elements described in more detail below. In such embodiments, various customized modular balloon clusters may be positioned in a variety of ways and to a variety of external surfaces.
The present invention includes a variety of aspects which may be combined in different ways. The following descriptions are provided to list elements and describe some of the embodiments of the present invention. These elements are listed with initial embodiments, however it should be understood that they may be combined in any manner and in any number to create additional embodiments. The variously described examples and preferred embodiments should not be construed to limit the present invention to only the explicitly described systems, techniques, and applications. Further, this description should be understood to support and encompass descriptions and claims of all the various embodiments, systems, techniques, methods, devices, and applications with any number of the disclosed elements, with each element alone, and also with any and all various permutations and combinations of all elements in this or any subsequent application.
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In still other embodiments, a variety of coupler mechanisms may be contemplated. For example, both a proximal coupler position (11a) and a terminal coupler position (11b) may include coupler positions including, but not limited to: a slide lock coupler position; a snap lock coupler position; a fitted coupler position; a beveled coupler position; a twist lock coupler position; a threaded coupler position, a clamp lock coupler position; and a quick release coupler position. Each variety of coupler position may, as described above, allow a plurality of connectors (10), each having both a complementary proximal coupler position (11a) and a complementary terminal coupler position (11b) to be coupled in series or in another coupling configuration.
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It should be noted that a variety of balloons (2) may be configured to be secured to one or more balloon attachments (4). Such balloon embodiments may include traditional balloons, and helium-free balloons. Other embodiments include a rotationally molded helium-free and seam-welded helium-free balloon as described in U.S. Pat. No. 9,132,595, as well as blow-molded helium-free balloon as described in U.S. Pat. App. No. 62/199,720 (both of which are herein incorporated by reference).
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Naturally a variety of valves (7) maybe be incorporated into various embodiments of the invention. Such valves (7) may include, but not be limited to: a needle valve, a one-way valve; a two-way valve; a removable valve; a manual inflation valve; a compressed air inflation valve; and a plug valve or even a plug. Additional embodiments may include a valve housing (5) that is configured to be coupled with a compressed air valve or hose such that one or more balloons (2) may be inflated directly by such a machine cutting down on cost and time.
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In another embodiment a proximal adaptor (22) may include a manifold block (18). In this preferred embodiment, this manifold block (18) may be positioned approximate to a terminal coupler position (11b) such that a proximal adaptor (22) may be inserted through a manifold aperture (6) thus positioning the manifold (3), in this instance, over the stem (17) of the proximal adaptor (22). The natural action of the manifold (3) may allow it to slide down until it is mechanically stopped by the manifold block (18). In the preferred embodiment shown in
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In another preferred embodiment, one or both manifolds (3) may include one or more manifold slots (25) which may correspond one or more manifold guides (26), and in some instances may act to help guide and/or align both modular manifolds (27) prior to coupling. In this embodiment, the balloon attachments (4)—which in this case include five balloon attachments (4) angling outward from the modular manifold (27)—may be optimally positioned to form a desired “balloon cluster.” In other embodiments, both the manifold slots (25) and/or manifold guides (26) may also acts as a manifold coupler (29a) as described above.
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In another embodiment an airway (9) may connect a plurality of balloon attachments (4) such that a balloon (2) may be secured to a balloon attachment (4) and may be inflated by passing air through an inflation port into the balloon (2) and into an airway (9) such that multiple balloons may be internally inflated from a single air supply.
It should be noted that in some embodiments one or more modular manifolds (27)—which may be coupled or uncoupled—may be secured to an external surface such as a wall, or elevated position, or even positioned on a pole or connector (10) or other elements as described above. In certain embodiments a modular manifold (27) may be configured to be magnetically coupled to an external surface, such as through an integrally positioned magnet in the manifold itself, or through an magnetic attachment or magnetic fitting display as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/931,631 (again, incorporated herein by reference). In another embodiment a modular manifold (27) may be configured to be suction coupled to an external surface, such as through an integrally positioned suction cup in the manifold itself, or through a suction cup attachment that may be coupled with a modular manifold (27).
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In addition, one or more manifold fasteners (36) may be coupled with an external surface mount aperture (39) first and then further coupled with a modular manifold (27). In this preferred embodiment, one or more modular manifolds (27) may be coupled with an external surface mount (34) secured to an external surface—such as a metal surface in the case of a magnetic external surface mount (34)—and may further be coupled with a plurality of balloons forming a desired “balloon cluster.” In yet another preferred embodiment, an second balloon may be secured to a secondary balloon attachment (40) which then may be secured to a modular manifold (27), for example through a manifold aperture (6), or even with an external surface mount (34) or manifold fastener (36). In this configuration, as demonstrated in
In certain embodiments, this secondary balloon attachment (40) may be secured to a modular manifold (27), a manifold aperture (6), or even an external surface mount aperture (39). In one preferred embodiment it may be magnetically coupled with a manifold fastener (36). This secondary balloon attachment (40) may further include a valve housing (5) securing one or more valves (7). A surface disinterment handle (38) may also be secured with or configured to be coupled with an external surface mount (34) which may allow a user to grasp and/or remove an external surface mount (34) from a corresponding surface.
In another preferred embodiment, one or more modular manifolds (27) may be coupled with an external surface mount (34) which may be a suction cup that may further be secured to an external surface and may further be coupled with a plurality of balloons forming a desired “balloon cluster.” In one embodiment a manifold adaptor (35) on an external surface mount (34) may be coupled with a manifold aperture (6). As shown in shown in
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It should be noted that in some instances the various elements of the modular balloon support (1) have been described as unitary elements, such description is exemplary only as each element may also be separately detachable and/or re-attachable to any other element herein described.
Naturally, all embodiments discussed herein are merely illustrative and should not be construed to limit the scope of the inventive technology consistent with the broader inventive principles disclosed. As may be easily understood from the foregoing, the basic concepts of the present inventive technology may be embodied in a variety of ways. It generally involves systems, methods, techniques as well as devices to accomplish a modular balloon support system. In this application, the methods and apparatus for the aforementioned systems are disclosed as part of the results shown to be achieved by the various devices described and as steps which are inherent to utilization. They are simply the natural result of utilizing the devices as intended and described. In addition, while some devices are disclosed, it should be understood that these not only accomplish certain methods but also can be varied in a number of ways. Importantly, as to all of the foregoing, all of these facets should be understood to be encompassed by this disclosure.
While the invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular form set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the statements of invention. As can be easily understood from the foregoing, the basic concepts of the present invention may be embodied in a variety of ways. It involves both techniques as well as devices to accomplish the appropriate system. In this application, the techniques are disclosed as part of the results shown to be achieved by the various devices described and as steps which are inherent to utilization. They are simply the natural result of utilizing the devices as intended and described. In addition, while some devices are disclosed, it should be understood that these not only accomplish certain methods but also can be varied in a number of ways. Importantly, as to all of the foregoing, all of these facets should be understood to be encompassed by this disclosure.
The discussion included in this application is intended to serve as a basic description. The reader should be aware that the specific discussion may not explicitly describe all embodiments possible; many alternatives are implicit. It also may not fully explain the generic nature of the invention and may not explicitly show how each feature or element can actually be representative of a broader function or of a great variety of alternative or equivalent elements. Again, these are implicitly included in this disclosure. Where the invention is described in method-oriented terminology, each element of the claims corresponds to a device. Apparatus claims may not only be included for the device described, but also method or process claims may be included to address the functions the invention and each element performs. Neither the description nor the terminology is intended to limit the scope of the claims that will be included in any subsequent patent application.
It should also be understood that a variety of changes may be made without departing from the essence of the invention. Such changes are also implicitly included in the description. They still fall within the scope of this invention. A broad disclosure encompassing both the explicit embodiment(s) shown, the great variety of implicit alternative embodiments, and the broad methods or processes and the like are encompassed by this disclosure and may be relied upon when drafting any claims. It should be understood that such language changes and broader or more detailed claiming may be accomplished at a later date (such as by any required deadline) or in the event the applicant subsequently seeks a patent filing based on this filing. With this understanding, the reader should be aware that this disclosure is to be understood to support any subsequently filed patent application that may seek examination of as broad a base of claims as deemed within the applicant's right and may be designed to yield a patent covering numerous aspects of the invention both independently and as an overall system.
Further, each of the various elements of the invention and claims may also be achieved in a variety of manners. Additionally, when used or implied, an element is to be understood as encompassing individual as well as plural structures that may or may not be physically connected. This disclosure should be understood to encompass each such variation, be it a variation of an embodiment of any apparatus embodiment, a method or process embodiment, or even merely a variation of any element of these. Particularly, it should be understood that as the disclosure relates to elements of the invention, the words for each element may be expressed by equivalent apparatus terms or method terms—even if only the function or result is the same. Such equivalent, broader, or even more generic terms should be considered to be encompassed in the description of each element or action. Such terms can be substituted where desired to make explicit the implicitly broad coverage to which this invention is entitled. As but one example, it should be understood that all actions may be expressed as a means for taking that action or as an element which causes that action. Similarly, each physical element disclosed should be understood to encompass a disclosure of the action which that physical element facilitates. Regarding this last aspect, as but one example, the disclosure of a “support” should be understood to encompass disclosure of the act of “supporting”—whether explicitly discussed or not—and, conversely, were there effectively disclosure of the act of “supporting”, such a disclosure should be understood to encompass disclosure of a “supporting method and/or technique, and/or device” and even a “means for supporting.” Such changes and alternative terms are to be understood to be explicitly included in the description.
Any patents, publications, or other references mentioned in this application for patent, such as in the specification or an IDS are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Any priority case(s) claimed by this application is hereby appended and hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. In addition, as to each term used it should be understood that unless its utilization in this application is inconsistent with a broadly supporting interpretation, common dictionary definitions should be understood as incorporated for each term and all definitions, alternative terms, and synonyms such as contained in the Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, second edition are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Finally, all references listed in the list of References To Be Incorporated By Reference In Accordance With The Patent Application or other information disclosure statement and the like filed with the application are hereby appended and hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety, however, as to each of the above, to the extent that such information or statements incorporated by reference might be considered inconsistent with the patenting of this/these invention(s) such statements are expressly not to be considered as made by the applicant(s).
Thus, the applicant(s) should be understood to have support to claim and make a statement of invention to at least: i) each of the methods and/or apparatus for providing a modular balloon support system as herein disclosed and described, ii) the related methods disclosed and described, iii) similar, equivalent, and even implicit variations of each of these devices and methods, iv) those alternative designs which accomplish each of the functions shown as are disclosed and described, v) those alternative designs and methods which accomplish each of the functions shown as are implicit to accomplish that which is disclosed and described, vi) each feature, component, and step shown as separate and independent inventions, vii) the applications enhanced by the various systems or components disclosed, viii) the resulting products produced by such systems or components, ix) each system, method, and element shown or described as now applied to any specific field or devices mentioned, x) methods and apparatuses substantially as described hereinbefore and with reference to any of the accompanying examples, xi) the various combinations and permutations of each of the elements disclosed, xii) each potentially dependent claim or concept as a dependency on each and every one of the independent claims or concepts presented, and xiii) all inventions described herein.
With regard to claims whether now or later presented for examination, it should be understood that for practical reasons and so as to avoid great expansion of the examination burden, the applicant may at any time present only initial claims or perhaps only initial claims with only initial dependencies. The office and any third persons interested in potential scope of this or subsequent applications should understand that broader claims may be presented at a later date in this case, in a case claiming the benefit of this case, or in any continuation in spite of any preliminary amendments, other amendments, claim language, or arguments presented, thus throughout the pendency of any case there is no intention to disclaim or surrender any potential subject matter. It should be understood that if or when broader claims are presented, such may require that any relevant prior art that may have been considered at any prior time may need to be re-visited since it is possible that to the extent any amendments, claim language, or arguments presented in this or any subsequent application are considered as made to avoid such prior art, such reasons may be eliminated by later presented claims or the like. Both the examiner and any person otherwise interested in existing or later potential coverage, or considering if there has at any time been any possibility of an indication of disclaimer or surrender of potential coverage, should be aware that no such surrender or disclaimer is ever intended or ever exists in this or any subsequent application. Limitations such as arose in Hakim v. Cannon Avent Group, PLC, 479 F.3d 1313 (Fed. Cir 2007), or the like are expressly not intended in this or any subsequent related matter. In addition, support should be understood to exist to the degree required under new matter laws—including but not limited to European Patent Convention Article 123(2) and United States Patent Law 35 USC 132 or other such laws—to permit the addition of any of the various dependencies or other elements presented under one independent claim or concept as dependencies or elements under any other independent claim or concept. In drafting any claims at any time whether in this application or in any subsequent application, it should also be understood that the applicant has intended to capture as full and broad a scope of coverage as legally available. To the extent that insubstantial substitutes are made, to the extent that the applicant did not in fact draft any claim so as to literally encompass any particular embodiment, and to the extent otherwise applicable, the applicant should not be understood to have in any way intended to or actually relinquished such coverage as the applicant simply may not have been able to anticipate all eventualities; one skilled in the art, should not be reasonably expected to have drafted a claim that would have literally encompassed such alternative embodiments.
Further, if or when used, the use of the transitional phrase “comprising” is used to maintain the “open-end” claims herein, according to traditional claim interpretation. Thus, unless the context requires otherwise, it should be understood that the term “comprise” or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising”, are intended to imply the inclusion of a stated element or step or group of elements or steps but not the exclusion of any other element or step or group of elements or steps. Such terms should be interpreted in their most expansive form so as to afford the applicant the broadest coverage legally permissible. It should be understood that this application also provides support for any combination of elements in the claims and even incorporates any desired proper antecedent basis for certain claim combinations such as with combinations of method, apparatus, process, and the like claims.
Any claims set forth at any time are hereby incorporated by reference as part of this description of the invention, and the applicant expressly reserves the right to use all of or a portion of such incorporated content of such claims as additional description to support any of or all of the claims or any element or component thereof, and the applicant further expressly reserves the right to move any portion of or all of the incorporated content of such claims or any element or component thereof from the description into the claims or vice-versa as necessary to define the matter for which protection is sought by this application or by any subsequent continuation, division, or continuation-in-part application thereof, or to obtain any benefit of, reduction in fees pursuant to, or to comply with the patent laws, rules, or regulations of any country or treaty, and such content incorporated by reference shall survive during the entire pendency of this application including any subsequent continuation, division, or continuation-in-part application thereof or any reissue or extension thereon. The inventive subject matter is to include, but certainly not be limited as, a system substantially as herein described with reference to any one or more of the Figures and Description (including the following: for example, the process according to any claims and further comprising any of the steps as shown in any Figures, separately, in any combination or permutation).
