U.S. patent application number 10/802587 was filed with the patent office on 2005-03-10 for lighted balloon entertainment device.
This patent application is currently assigned to Buzz Bee Toys, Inc.. Invention is credited to Ma, Woo Wah.
Application Number | 20050054262 10/802587 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 33030041 |
Filed Date | 2005-03-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050054262 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ma, Woo Wah |
March 10, 2005 |
Lighted balloon entertainment device
Abstract
A balloon inflation and air containment device is provided. The
device includes a first tube with a first end which receives an air
supply and a second end which receives a mouth of a balloon. A
collapsible second tube is axially sealably connected to the first
tube and extends away from the first tube. A method for
constructing a balloon assembly with the above-described device is
also provided.
Inventors: |
Ma, Woo Wah; (Kowloon,
HK) |
Correspondence
Address: |
VOLPE AND KOENIG, P.C.
UNITED PLAZA, SUITE 1600
30 SOUTH 17TH STREET
PHILADELPHIA
PA
19103
US
|
Assignee: |
Buzz Bee Toys, Inc.
Mt. Laurel
NJ
|
Family ID: |
33030041 |
Appl. No.: |
10/802587 |
Filed: |
March 17, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60455683 |
Mar 17, 2003 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
446/220 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63H 2027/1033 20130101;
A63H 2027/1058 20130101; A63H 27/10 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
446/220 |
International
Class: |
A63H 003/06; A63H
005/00; A63H 003/31 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A balloon inflation and air containment device comprising: a
first tube having a first end for receiving an air supply and a
second end for receiving a mouth of a balloon; and a second tube,
axially sealably connected to the first tube in a substantially
airtight manner, which extends away from the first tube, the second
tube being collapsible, whereby the air supply which is received by
the first end of the first tube, passes through the second tube
prior to entering the balloon.
2. The device according to claim 1, further comprising adhesive
tape which connects the second tube to the first tube.
3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second
tubes are substantially cylindrical, and wherein the second end of
the first tube is tapered and connects with an interior surface of
the second tube.
4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first tube includes
a shoulder for attaching the mouth of a balloon, and wherein the
device further comprises a balloon supporter which contacts the
shoulder, with a portion of the balloon disposed between the
shoulder and the balloon supporter.
5. The device according to claim 4, wherein the balloon supporter
is a substantially dome-shaped structure having a centrally located
aperture for receiving there through the first and second
tubes.
6. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a plug
connected with the first end of the first tube for preventing air
from escaping from the balloon after the air supply is received by
the balloon.
7. The device according to claim 6, further comprising a support
rod connected to at least one of the first tube and the plug for
supporting the balloon.
8. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a lighting
device which is positioned inside the balloon.
9. The device according to claim 8, wherein the lighting device
includes an extension rod which extends through the first and
second tubes, and at least one lighting element connected to the
extension rod for illuminating an interior of the balloon.
10. The device according to claim 9, further comprising a plug
which is sealingly connected to the first end of the first tube and
the extension rod to prevent air from escaping from the
balloon.
11. A method for constructing a balloon assembly comprising:
providing a tube assembly including a first tube having first and
second ends, and a collapsible second tube axially sealably
connected to the first tube in a substantially airtight manner
which extends away from the first tube; providing a balloon
including a mouth; inserting the tube assembly axially into the
mouth of the balloon with the second tube leading into the balloon,
wherein an inside surface of the mouth sealably connects with an
outside surface of the tube assembly; providing an air supply at
the first end of the first tube; and inflating the balloon with the
air supply.
12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the providing of the
tube assembly includes providing the first tube with a shoulder,
and wherein the method further comprises: providing a balloon
supporter having an aperture through which the balloon is placed
prior to the tube assembly being inserted into the balloon mouth;
and inserting the tube assembly axially through the aperture of the
balloon supporter wherein the perimeter of the aperture contacts
the shoulder, with a portion of the balloon disposed between the
shoulder and the balloon supporter.
13. The method according to claim 11, further comprising providing
a lighting device and inserting the lighting device into the
balloon through the mouth.
14. The method according to claim 11, further comprising: providing
a lighting device including an extension rod and a lighting element
connected to the extension rod; and inserting the lighting device
through the tube assembly into an interior of the balloon wherein
at least a portion of the lighting device is surrounded by the tube
assembly.
15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising sealably
connecting a plug to the first tube to prevent the air supply from
escaping the balloon.
16. The method according to claim 14, further comprising: providing
a plug having an having an aperture; sealably inserting the
extension rod through the aperture; sealably inserting the plug
into the first tube to prevent the air supply from escaping the
balloon.
17. The method according to claim 11, further comprising connecting
a support rod to the tube assembly.
18. A balloon assembly, comprising: a balloon inflation and air
containment device, which includes a first tube having a first end
for receiving an air supply and a second end for receiving a mouth
of a balloon, and which includes a second tube, axially sealably
connected to the first tube in a substantially airtight manner,
which extends away from the first tube, the second tube being
collapsible; and a balloon, which includes a mouth which is
sealably connected to the first tube in a substantially air tight
manner, wherein the second end of the first tube and at least a
portion of the second tube are contained in an interior of the
balloon; whereby the air supply which is received by the first end
of the first tube passes through the second tube prior to entering
the balloon.
19. The assembly according to claim 18, wherein the balloon
inflation and air containment device further includes a balloon
supporter supported by the first tube, wherein a portion of the
balloon is disposed between the first tube and the balloon
supporter.
20. The assembly according to claim 18, wherein the balloon
inflation and air containment device further includes a lighting
device, connected to the first tube, which extends into the
interior of the balloon.
21. The combination assembly according to claim 20, wherein the
balloon inflation and air containment device further includes a
plug which is sealingly connected to the first end of the first
tube and the lighting device to prevent air from escaping from the
balloon.
22. The combination assembly according to claim 21, wherein the
balloon inflation and air containment device further includes a
supporting rod connected to the plug.
23. The combination assembly according to claim 18, wherein the
balloon inflation and air containment device further includes a
supporting rod connected to the first tube.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional
application No. 60/455,683, filed Mar. 17, 2003 which is
incorporated by reference as if fully set forth.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Balloons are simple and traditional entertainment items for
young children. However, inflating a balloon, especially orally, is
not a simple task because air has a tendency to escape though the
mouth of the balloon between bursts of inflation air or after
inflation and prior to sealing the mouth. Therefore, it would be
desirable to provide a device which eases balloon inflation.
[0003] Since balloons are typically novelty items, any features
which provide added distinction are desirable. Providing lights
within an otherwise plain balloon would be effective to add
interest to the balloon. It would be desirable to provide an
efficient, cost effective device for adding light to a balloon.
SUMMARY
[0004] Briefly stated the invention provides a balloon inflation
and air containment device. The device includes a first tube with a
first end for receiving an air supply and a second end for
receiving a mouth of a balloon. A collapsible second tube is
connected to the first tube in a substantially airtight manner and
extends away from the first tube. In one embodiment, a lighting
device may be positioned inside the balloon.
[0005] Also provided is a method for constructing a balloon
assembly. The method includes providing a tube assembly including a
first tube and a collapsible second tube, axially connected to the
first tube, which extends away from the first tube. A balloon is
provided, and the tube assembly is axially inserted into a mouth of
the balloon with the second tube leading into the balloon. The
method includes providing an air supply at a first end of the first
tube and inflating the balloon with the air supply. In one
embodiment, a lighting device having an extension rod and a
lighting element connected to the extension rod is provided. The
lighting device is inserted through the tube assembly into an
interior of the balloon.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] The foregoing summary as well as the following detailed
description of the preferred embodiment of the present invention
will be better understood when read in conjunction with the
appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention,
there is shown in the drawings an embodiment that is currently
preferred. It should be understood, however, that the invention is
not limited to the precise arrangement shown.
[0007] FIG. 1a is a top perspective view of an air filling pipe of
an air filling device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of
the invention.
[0008] FIG. 1b is an elevational view of the air filling pipe of
FIG. 1.
[0009] FIG. 1c is a cross-sectional view of the air filling pipe of
FIG. 1 taken along line 1c-1c of FIG. 1b.
[0010] FIG. 1d is a top plan view of the air filling pipe of FIG.
1.
[0011] FIG. 1e is a bottom plan view of the air filling pipe of
FIG. 1.
[0012] FIG. 2a is a top perspective view of a tube assembly of the
air filling device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the
invention.
[0013] FIG. 2b is a top perspective view of the tube assembly of
FIG. 2a illustrating an assembly procedure.
[0014] FIG. 3a is a top perspective view of a balloon supporter of
the device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the
invention.
[0015] FIG. 3b is a top plan view of the balloon supporter of FIG.
3a.
[0016] FIG. 3c is a cross-sectional view of the balloon supporter
taken along lines, 3c-3c of FIG. 3b.
[0017] FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a method of
inserting the air filling pipe into a balloon in accordance with a
preferred embodiment of the invention.
[0018] FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a method of
manually fitting the balloon onto the air filling pipe according to
a preferred embodiment of the invention.
[0019] FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a method of press
fitting the balloon supporter onto the filling pipe according to a
preferred embodiment of the invention.
[0020] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a balloon assembly after
installation of the air filling device according to a preferred
embodiment of the invention.
[0021] FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating one method of
inflating a balloon using the air filling device.
[0022] FIG. 9a is a cross-sectional view of a partially-inflated
balloon assembly during inflation using the air filling device.
[0023] FIG. 9b is a cross-sectional view of a partially-inflated
balloon assembly during an interruption of inflation.
[0024] FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating a method of
inserting a lighting device into an inflated balloon according to a
preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0025] FIG. 11 is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating a
condition of the air filling device immediately after a lighting
device has been inserted into the balloon.
[0026] FIG. 12a is a cross-sectional view of an air filling pipe
illustrating air seals in accordance with a preferred embodiment of
the invention.
[0027] FIG. 12b is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional view
of FIG. 12a showing the air seals in greater detail.
[0028] FIG. 13a illustrates an embodiment of the invention in which
a rod extends through the center of a sealing plug.
[0029] FIG. 13b illustrates an embodiment of the invention in which
a plug is connected on end to a supporting rod, and on another end
to a lighting device.
[0030] FIG. 13c illustrates an embodiment of the invention in which
a balloon assembly is mounted using a plug that is connected on end
to an outer surface of a filling pipe, and on another end to a
supporting rod.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)
[0031] Certain terminology is used in the following description for
convenience only and is not considered limiting. Words such as
"front", "back", "top" and "bottom" designate directions in the
drawings to which reference is made. This terminology includes the
words specifically noted above, derivatives thereof and words of
similar import. Additionally, the terms "a" and "one" are defined
as including one or more of the referenced item unless specifically
noted.
[0032] The preferred embodiments of the present invention will be
described with reference to the drawing figures where like numerals
represent like elements throughout.
[0033] Referring now to FIGS. 1a-1e, an air filling pipe 10 of a
balloon inflation and air containment device 70 according to a
preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown. The air
filling pipe 10 comprises a first tube with a hollow, tube-like
object with a circular cross-section having a step 36 on its outer
surface to provide a seat for a balloon supporter 12, as shown in
FIG. 7. Alternatively, the pipe 10 may have an elliptical
cross-section or even a polygonal cross-section. Preferably, the
pipe 10 is formed of a polymeric material; however, any suitable
material may be used including metal or wood.
[0034] Referring to FIGS. 2a and 2b, a sealing film tube 11 is
connected to the air filling pipe 10 to form a tube assembly 50.
The sealing film tube 11 comprises a second tube formed of a
collapsible plastic thin-wall material. The sealing film tube 11 is
also preferably constructed of a polymeric material, and may be
molded or woven. However, any suitable collapsible material and
fabrication method may be used. A longer sealing film tube 11 may
provide better air sealing. However, if the sealing film tube 11 is
too long, inserting the tube 11 into a balloon 20, as shown in FIG.
4, will become difficult.
[0035] FIG. 2b shows how the sealing film tube 11 is mounted on the
air filling pipe 10. The tube 11 is first slid onto a
smaller-diameter end of the air filling pipe 10. Then, an adhesive
tape 13 is wrapped around the surface of the pipe 10 with half of
the tape applied to an outer surface of the pipe 10 and the other
half applied to an edge of the tube 11. Any suitable adhesive tape
may be used. The tape provides a very strong mounting joint between
the tube 11 and the pipe 10. In order to achieve a better sealing
joint, the length of the adhesive tape 13 should be greater than
the circumference of the film tube 11 so that one end of the tape
13 overlaps with another end. This will ensure no air leakage.
However, if the sealing film tube 11 fits the air filling pipe 10
very tightly, a shorter tape 13 can be used without affecting the
seal because the connection between the film tube 11 and the
filling pipe 10 will be tight enough to stop any leakage.
[0036] Referring to FIGS. 3a-3c, 9a and 11, the balloon supporter
12 provides a seat for the inflated balloon 20. Preferably, the
balloon supporter 12 is constructed as a molded polymeric material,
but may be formed in any suitable manner of any material. The
balloon supporter 12 will prevent the balloon 20 from excessive
swaying while the assembly is in motion.
[0037] On the bottom part of the supporter 12, there is an aperture
which is placed over the air filling pipe 10 with the balloon skin
disposed between, as seen in FIGS. 9a and 9b. Preferably, the
aperture is sized to mate securely with the filing pipe 10 and
prevent leakage of air from the balloon. Once the balloon is
inflated, the lower part of the balloon surface pushes downwardly
on the balloon supporter 12 and makes the supporter sit more
securely on the pipe 10.
[0038] Installation of the tube assembly 50 into the balloon is as
follows. Referring to FIG. 4, the balloon 20 is first inserted
through the circular aperture of the supporter 12. The tube
assembly 50 is subsequently inserted into the balloon 20. A correct
size balloon should preferably have a mouth diameter slightly
smaller than the outside diameter of the air filling pipe 10. A
small rubbing force by fingers pushes the balloon skin towards an
opposite end of the pipe 10 as shown in FIG. 5. After the air
filling pipe 10 has been inserted to a predetermined depth, the
balloon supporter 12 is then slid onto the seat of the pipe 10,
forming a part of the device 70, as seen in FIG. 6. Therefore, the
device 70, when completely assembled, includes the tube assembly 50
and the supporter 12. Friction between the balloon skin and the
perimeter of the aperture of the balloon supporter 12 holds the
supporter 12 in place before inflating the balloon 20. FIG. 7 shows
the cross-section layout of a complete, assembled balloon assembly
80 which includes the inflation and air containment device 70 and
the balloon 20. The next step is to blow air into the balloon.
[0039] The sealing film tube 11 on the air filling pipe 10 acts as
a uni-directional valve which allows air to enter the balloon 20
during inflation, but prevents air from being expelled from the
balloon when inflation is stopped. FIG. 8 shows a method of
inflating the balloon using a foot pump 40 and tube 41.
Alternatively, the balloon may be inflated using any method
including orally blowing into the filing pipe 10, or using other
air filling apparatuses.
[0040] FIGS. 9a and 9b show how the sealing film tube 11 works as a
uni-directional valve. When the air pressure P1 on the mouth of the
air filling pipe 10 is higher than the air pressure P2 inside the
balloon 20, air will flow into the balloon by passing through the
center of the filling pipe 10 and the center of the sealing film
tube 11. As air pressure inside the balloon 20 increases, the
balloon 20 expands. When the air pressure P1 returns to atmospheric
pressure for any reason, the pressurized air inside the balloon 20
tends to escape to the outside environment through the center hole
of both the sealing film tube 11 and the air filling pipe 10. As
seen in FIG. 9b, however, pressurized air will simultaneously
compress the sealing film tube 11 until the thin walls of the
sealing film tube 11 contact one another. The collapsed film tube
11 prevents any further air from flowing outwardly through the
sealing film tube 11. Therefore, the inflation process can be
stopped anytime, and the process can be resumed anytime. When
inflation is stopped and pressure P1 returns to atmospheric
pressure, a small amount of air inside the balloon escapes through
the pipe 10. However, the escape rate is not fast enough to allow a
significant size reduction in the balloon. When inflation resumes
and the pressure P1 becomes greater than P2, air will flow into the
balloon once again.
[0041] After the balloon has been inflated to a predetermined size,
a lighting device 30 may be added to the device 70. The lighting
device 30 is preferably inserted into the balloon through the tube
assembly 50 to provide lighting to the balloon assembly 80. Also,
if desired, the lighting device 30 may be inserted prior to
inflation. The lighting device 30 includes an extension rod 38 and
a lighting element 31. Referring to FIG. 10, the lighting device 30
is first inserted through the air filling pipe 10. As the lighting
device 30 passes through the sealing film tube 11, a small amount
of air leaks out of the balloon due to gaps between the sealing
film tube 11 and the lighting device 30. Referring now to FIGS. 11,
12a and 12b, the air leakage will stop as soon as a plug 14 is
inserted into the air filling pipe 10. The plug 14 contacts and is
slightly deformed by or deforms seals 101 and 102 located on the
inner wall of the air filling pipe 10, thereby sealing the pipe.
Usually, one of the seals is sufficient to keep air inside the
balloon. However, the two seals 101 and 102 provide a more secure
double sealing joint. The plug 14 additionally seals against a
surface of the extension rod 38, as shown. Alternatively, the plug
14 may be formed integral with the extension rod 38. Once
assembled, the lighted balloon assembly 80 may be carried or
mounted by an end of the extension rod 38.
[0042] The lighting device 30 inside the balloon transforms a
traditional balloon into an attractive, illuminated object.
Children carrying the balloon will attract the attention of others,
especially at night.
[0043] The balloon inflation and air containment device 70 can be
provided with a variety of different mounting devices so that the
complete, inflated balloon assembly 80 can be mounted in different
places. FIGS. 13a, 13b and 13c show three different ways of
mounting the balloon assembly 80. FIG. 13a shows a mounting method
using a carrying rod 32 that extends through the center of the
sealing plug 14 tightly and is secured thereto with or without
glue. FIG. 13b shows another way to hold the balloon assembly 80
using an alternative sealing plug 15 that connects to a supporting
rod 34 on one end, and connects at the other end to a support rod
33 of a lighting source. FIG. 13c shows another way to hold the
assembly using a different sealing plug 35 that connects to a
supporting rod 39 on one end and connects to the filling pipe 10 on
the other end.
[0044] While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been
described in detail, the invention is not limited to the specific
embodiments described above, which should be considered as merely
exemplary. Further modifications and extensions of the present
invention may be developed, and all such modifications are deemed
to be within the scope of the present invention as defined by the
appended claims.
* * * * *