U.S. patent application number 15/625043 was filed with the patent office on 2018-12-20 for method for filling container with fluid.
This patent application is currently assigned to Stallion Sport Limited. The applicant listed for this patent is Stallion Sport Limited. Invention is credited to Joseph Lin.
Application Number | 20180362195 15/625043 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 64656870 |
Filed Date | 2018-12-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180362195 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lin; Joseph |
December 20, 2018 |
METHOD FOR FILLING CONTAINER WITH FLUID
Abstract
In order to accomplish the objects of the present invention,
there is provided a method for filling containers with fluids. A
method provides a container made of an elastic material, the
container having an internal chamber and a neck with an opening. A
plug is provided inside the chamber, the plug having a buoyancy
that allows it to float when fluid is introduced into the chamber.
A fluid is introduced into the chamber, causing the plug to float
until the plug enters the neck and seals the neck.
Inventors: |
Lin; Joseph; (Torrance,
CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Stallion Sport Limited |
San Po Kong |
|
HK |
|
|
Assignee: |
Stallion Sport Limited
San Po Kong
HK
|
Family ID: |
64656870 |
Appl. No.: |
15/625043 |
Filed: |
June 16, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63H 27/10 20130101;
A63H 2027/1083 20130101; A63H 2027/1041 20130101; A63H 2027/1091
20130101; B65B 7/02 20130101; A63H 2027/1033 20130101; B65B 3/04
20130101 |
International
Class: |
B65B 3/04 20060101
B65B003/04; B65B 7/02 20060101 B65B007/02; A63H 27/10 20060101
A63H027/10 |
Claims
1. A method for filling a container with fluid, comprising the
steps of: providing a container made of an elastic material, the
container having an internal chamber and a neck with an opening;
providing a spherical plug inside the chamber, the plug having a
buoyancy that allows it to float when fluid is introduced into the
chamber; and introducing a fluid into the chamber, causing the plug
to float until the plug enters the neck and seals the neck.
2. The method of claim 1, further including providing the plug with
a dimension that is larger than the normal unstretched internal
diameter of the neck.
3. A method for filling a container with fluid, comprising the
steps of: providing a container made of an elastic material, the
container having an internal chamber and a neck with an opening,
and wherein the neck has a narrowed region; providing a spherical
plug inside the chamber, the plug having a buoyancy that allows it
to float when fluid is introduced into the chamber; and introducing
a fluid into the chamber, causing the plug to float until the plug
enters the neck and is seated at the narrowed region to seal the
neck.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
[0001] The present invention relates to a method for filling a
container with fluid.
2. Description of the Prior Art
[0002] Inflatable containers such as balloons can be filled with a
variety of fluids, such as air, helium, water, medicines, etc.
Also, balloons are an example of a container that is made of an
elastic material, which can pose different problems when sealing
the container after it has been filled with the fluid. For example,
the neck of the balloon is also made of an elastic material, and
the user would typically need to use a rubber band or other sealing
mechanism to seal the neck after the balloon has been filled. It
can sometimes be time-consuming and troublesome for a user to tie
each balloon individually after the balloons have been filled.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0003] In order to accomplish the objects of the present invention,
there is provided a method for filling containers with fluids. A
method provides a container made of an elastic material, the
container having an internal chamber and a neck with an opening. A
spherical plug is provided inside the chamber, the plug having a
buoyancy that allows it to float when fluid is introduced into the
chamber. A fluid is introduced into the chamber, causing the plug
to float until the plug enters the neck and seals the neck. The
neck can also be provided with a narrowed region which allows the
plug to be seated therein.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0004] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a balloon and a plug
according to the present invention.
[0005] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the balloon and plug of FIG.
1.
[0006] FIG. 3 illustrates the balloon and plug of FIG. 1 with fluid
filling part of the balloon.
[0007] FIG. 4 illustrates the balloon and plug of FIG. 1 with fluid
filling most of the balloon.
[0008] FIG. 5 illustrates the balloon and plug of FIG. 1 with the
balloon being filled with fluid and the plug sealing the
balloon.
[0009] FIG. 6 is an expanded view showing the neck region of the
balloon in FIG. 5.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0010] The following detailed description is of the best presently
contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. This description
is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the
purpose of illustrating general principles of embodiments of the
invention. The scope of the invention is best defined by the
appended claims. In certain instances, detailed descriptions of
well-known devices and mechanisms are omitted so as to not obscure
the description of the present invention with unnecessary
detail.
[0011] FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of the present invention
with a balloon 10 having a plug 12 provided inside the chamber 14
of the balloon 10. As used herein, the term "container" refers to
an object that can hold something, such as fluids, and can include
a balloon. Therefore, the terms "balloon" and "container" shall be
used interchangeably herein, and it is understood that the present
invention is not limited to balloons.
[0012] Each balloon 10 has a neck 16 and a chamber 14 for
containing fluid. A foam plug 12 is retained inside the chamber 14,
and is adapted to be snugly fitted into the neck 16 in a manner
such that no additional fastening mechanism is needed to secure the
plug 12 inside the neck 16. The plug 12 can be provided in the
shape of a sphere as shown in the FIGS., and is provided in a
material that floats or has a buoyancy characteristic. An example
of a buoyant material that can be used for the plug 12 is foam. As
one non-limiting example, the snug fit can be achieved by the
elasticity of the material of the balloon 10. The balloon 10 can be
any conventional balloon, and as such, conventional balloons are
usually made of an elastic material such as rubber or latex which
has an elasticity that allows for a properly-sized spherical plug
12 to be tightly held inside the neck 15. The balloon 10 can also
be a novel balloon that has a narrowed region 16 provided at the
neck 15. The narrowed region 16 can be formed when the balloon 10
is molded. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the plug 12 can be
sized to be larger than the normal unstretched internal diameter of
the neck 15, and in particular, the narrowed region 16, thereby
allowing the plug 12 to be securely retained inside the neck 15
when the chamber 14 is filled with a fluid.
[0013] A method for filling the balloon 10 with a fluid is as
follows. To fill and seal the balloon 10, the outlet of a fluid
source (not shown), such as a hose 22, can be inserted into the
opening 18 of the neck 15, and the fluid (e.g., water) is
introduced into the chamber 14. As fluid is introduced into the
chamber 14, the plug 12 floats as best shown in FIG. 3. The balloon
10 is filled and expands. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the plug 12
floats up and approaches the neck 15. When the balloon 10 is
completely filled with fluid, the plug 12 is forced by the fluid
into the neck 15, and seals the neck 15 at the narrowed region 16.
See FIGS. 5 and 6. In this regard, the elasticity of the balloon
material, coupled with the sizing of the plug 12 to be wider than
the unstretched internal diameter of the neck 15, allows the plug
12 to stretch the elasticity of the neck 15 as the fluid pushes the
plug 12 into the neck 15, thereby ensuring a snug and tight fit. To
provide a more effective liquid seal, the narrowed region 16 has a
smaller internal diameter than the rest of the neck 15, thereby
ensuring that the plug 12 is securely held at the narrowed region
16. This is best shown in FIG. 6.
[0014] The method of the present invention allows balloons 10 to be
filled quickly without the need for a conduit or tube to deliver
the fluid from the fluid source into the chamber 14 of the balloon
10. In addition, the present invention obviates the need for a
separate tying or sealing mechanism (e.g., a rubber band or tie)
after the balloon 10 has been filled with a fluid. In addition, the
spherical shape of the plug 12 allows the plug 12 to enter the
bottom 24 of the neck 15 more easily, so that the rising level of
the water inside the chamber 14 will alone be enough to push the
plug 12 into the neck 15.
[0015] The above detailed description is for the best presently
contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. This description
is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the
purpose of illustrating general principles of embodiments of the
invention. The scope of the invention is best defined by the
appended claims. In certain instances, detailed descriptions of
well-known devices, components, mechanisms and methods are omitted
so as to not obscure the description of the present invention with
unnecessary detail.
* * * * *