Educational Toy Balloon Systems

Abstract

Two or more balloons are cooperatively related by interconnection and/or by nesting in different combinations utilizing valves and tubes to produce a variety of effects by selective inflation. The balloons may be interconnected by tubes with a valve for each balloon for independent inflation or deflation in conjunction with one or more other balloons in various configurations. Valved manifolds may be employed for selectively inflating and/or interconnecting a plurality of balloons to demonstrate the hydrodynamics of pressure and the properties of elastic materials as well as to train children in manipulation and logical thinking.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to toys and educational equipment and more particularly is directed towards a system of interrelated balloons selectively inflatable in various configurations to demonstrate a variety of effects and physical principles.

2. History of the Prior Art

The hydrodynamics of pressure and the properties of elastic materials often times are difficult to grasp, particularly by children. There is a need for educational devices which can be operated by the students themselves with complete safety and yet which provide immediate demonstration of certain physical relationships.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an interrelated balloon system useful not only as a toy but for scientific and demonstrated educational purposes. A further object of the invention is to provide an interrelated flexible balloon system capable of a wide variety of configurations useful particularly for training children in manipulation and logical thinking.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention features an educational apparatus, comprising a plurality of inter-related nested balloons, conduits and valves connected to the balloons for selective inflation or deflation in a variety of different configurations and relationships. The nested balloons may be interconnected in various combinations with other sets of nested balloons in a variety of arrangements to produce a variety of results when the balloons are selectively inflated and the valves are selectively opened and closed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a set of two nested balloons in accordance with the invention,

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing two nested balloons in a coaxial configuration,

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing three nested balloons in a coaxial arrangement,

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing a pair of interconnected balloons on a Tee.

FIG. 5 is a plot of a typical curve demonstrating the inverse relationship of balloon pressure to balloon size,

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a pair of nested balloons with cross connections,

FIGS. 7 through 11 are sectional views showing different interconnections between two sets of nested balloons,

FIGS. 12, 13 and 14 are sectional views showing different interconnections for three sets of nested balloons,

FIGS. 15 through 17 are sectional views demonstrating different interconnections amongst four sets of nested balloons,

FIGS. 18 and 19 are sectional views showing different interconnections between two sets of triple-nested balloons, and,

FIG. 20 is a sectional view showing interconnections between mixed nested balloon sets.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In general, the invention involves a plurality of nested balloons connected by tubes and valves in such a manner that an individual balloon may be inflated and exhausted independently or in conjunction with any one, several or all of the remaining balloons in any of a variety of different combinations. In place of the tube connections, manifolds provided with appropriate valves may be employed to interconnect various nested balloon groups. The nested balloons, when inflated in various ways, demonstrate unusual and paradoxical properties.

In FIG. 1 there is illustrated a simple nested balloon group comprised of an outer balloon 10 provided with a tubular conduit 12 and a valve 14 and an inner balloon 16 similarly provided with a tubular conduit 18 extending through the wall of the balloon 10, as shown. In practice, it is desirable that the outer balloon 10 be fabricated of a transparent rubber or other suitable elastic material, while the inner balloon 16 should be opaque, at least in part, so that the effects of various experiments may be visible. Where more than one balloon is nested with another balloon, such as in FIG. 3, for example, the different balloons may be transparent but marked with different colored dots, bars or other indicia for identification. Also, simple pressure sensing devices adapted to emit a sound may be connected to the balloons to indicate when a specific pressure is reached for a particular balloon. Also, certain novel effects may be achieved in a multiple nested balloon system in which one of the balloons is not elastic and adapted to be inflated to a fixed size.

By inflating one balloon or the other or both, either by mouth or by pump through the conduits 12 and 18, various effects may be created. Complex relationships may be further enhanced by using balloons with different pressure size relationships. The parts used in making the connections may include plastic and rubber tubing, valves of various types such as turn, pinch or the like, Tees, crosses, etc., or a connecting manifold unit. Different effects may be achieved by first blowing up one or more of the balloons and then changing the position of one or more of the valves.

In FIG. 1, different effects can be achieved by inflating the inner and outer balloons through the separate conduits. In FIG. 2 a pair of nested balloons 22 and 24 are inflated through coaxial tubes 26 and 28, each with a control valve 30 and 32. In FIG. 3, three balloons 34, 36 and 38 are nested one within the other and inflated through coaxial tubes 40, 42, and 44, each with a control valve. A variety of effects can be achieved by inflating any one or all of the balloons at the same or different pressures and then releasing air from one or the other of the balloons. The effects of these different inflation conditions may be readily observed and repeated for demonstration to students.

FIG. 4 illustrates two simple balloons 46 and 48 connected to a common Tee 50 provided with a valve in each leg of the Tee. If the two balloons are inflated separately with one balloon larger than the other, and subsequently the crossover valves are opened with the center valve closed, surprisingly the smaller balloon 46 will empty its air into a larger balloon 48 which will become still larger while the small balloon becomes smaller. This effect is due to the fact that the internal pressure of a balloon is a decreasing function of its radius as represented in the curve of FIG. 5.

In FIG. 6 there is illustrated a pair of nested balloons 52 and 54 with separate valves 56 and 58 connected to a common conduit 60 having a valve 62. The conduit 60 may be connected to a pump or may be inflated by mouth. If the inner balloon 54 is first inflated, the pump turned off and the valve 62 closed and then the inner balloon 54 is connected with the outer balloon 52 by opening both valves 56 and 58, the inner balloon 54 will collapse while the outer balloon 52 remains the same size. Additional balloons may be added in successive nesting arrangements, all with separate valves, to the conduit 60. By blowing up any of the balloons, either in pairs or all at once, there are seven separate initial types of conditions. By then interconnecting the balloons, either two at a time of three at a time, the seven initial situations are then converted into 28 different conditions for this one configuration which may serve as the subject for analysis.

Referring now to FIGS. 7 through 11, there are shown variations involving two sets of balloons, each set comprising a pair of nested balloons interconnected in different fashions to produce a variety of effects. In FIG. 7 inner balloons 64 and 66 are interconnected and outer balloons 68 and 70 are interconnected. The inner balloons only are connected, as by a valved Tee 72, for inflation and deflation. The crossover conduit between the outer balloons is provided with a valve as shown. In FIG. 8 the configuration is similar to FIG. 7 with the exception that the outer balloons 68' and 70' are connected to a valved Tee 72' through which air may be delivered and exhausted. The crossover line between the inner balloons is provided with a valve as shown. In FIG. 9 a by-pass line with a valve is connected between the crossover line between the inner and the outer balloons, both crossover lines provided with a pair of valves for selectively isolating or connecting each of the balloons. In this fashion, the outer balloon on one side may be connected to the inner balloon on its own side or on the other side and any one or all of the balloons may be inflated or deflated. In FIG. 10, the outer balloon on one side is connected to the inner balloon on the other side and vice versa with a valved Tee in the crossover line connected to one inner balloon on one side and one outer balloon on the other side. The FIG. 11 configuration is similar to FIG. 10 with the exception of a by-pass line 76 connecting the two crossover lines.

Referring now to FIGS. 12, 13 and 14, there are illustrated different arrangements involving three sets of balloons, each set comprised of nested inner and outer balloons. In FIG. 12 each outer balloon of one set communicates with an inner balloon of an adjacent set through a crossover conduit provided with a valved Tee connection whereby the balloons may be inflated or deflated selectively in various combinations. In the FIG. 13 embodiment, again the outer balloon of one set communicates with the inner balloon of another set in a repeated fashion with the exception that the crossover lines between the two sets are simple conduits each with a valve, whereas the third crossover line is a Tee connection. In FIG. 14 there is shown a mixed connecting arrangement in which the outer balloons of two sets are interconnected, the inner balloons between another pair combination are interconnected and inner and outer balloons of still a different combination are interconnected. A by-pass line connects two crossover conduits and a Tee fitting is provided as in the illustrated arrangement.

FIGS. 15, 16 and 17 illustrate different connecting arrangements involving four sets of balloons, each set comprised of nested inner and outer balloons connected in various ways. In FIG. 15 the inner balloons of two pairs of balloon sets are connected as are the outer balloons of two pairs in different combinations. The crossover line between one pair of inner balloons is valved while the crossover line between the other pair of inner balloons is connected to a valved Tee as the sole means of inflation. The crossover line between the outer balloons are open conduits. In FIG. 16 diagonally opposite outer balloons are interconnected by valved conduits and the inner balloons are crossconnected in the fashion of FIG. 15. In FIG. 17 the inner balloons are cross-connected in the manner of FIG. 16 while the outer balloons are cross-connected in the manner of the inner balloons of FIG. 15 and 16.

In FIGS. 18 and 19 there are illustrated two sets of nested balloons, each set comprised of three nested balloons, two sets being interconnected by a common Tee manifold 80, each manifold branch provided with a valve for selectively inflating any one or combination of central, intermediate or outer balloons 82, 84 and 86, respectively, on either side of the branched Tee. In FIG. 19 the outermost balloon on one side is connected to the innermost balloon on the other side with the intermediate balloons cross-connected. There is a valve at each branch whereby any one or combination of balloons may be selectively inflated or deflated.

In FIG. 20 there are shown three mixed sets of balloons connected to a common manifolded Tee 88. One set of balloons involves four nested balloons while the other two sets each involves only a pair of nested balloons. The crossover connections permit a wide variety of combinations involving any one or group of balloons in one set with those of another. Quite obviously the number of nested balloons in any set as well as the number of sets may be increased or decreased as desired and a wide variety of different combinations and connections involving Tees, crossover conduits, by-passes and the like may be provided.

Claims

Having thus described the invention, what I claim and desire to obtain by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. An educational toy, comprising

a. a group of balloons nested one within the other,

b. at least the outermost of said balloons being transparent,

c. conduit means separately connected to each of said balloons and having the free ends thereof external to all of said balloons.

2. An educational toy according to claim 1 including valve means connected to each of said conduit means.

3. An educational toy according to claim 1 wherein said conduit means are coaxial.

4. An educational toy according to claim 1 including second conduit means mutually connecting said balloons and valve means connected to said second conduit means.

5. An educational toy according to claim 1 wherein the inner of said balloons are marked with identifying indicia.

6. An educational toy according to claim 1 in combination with at least one other group of nested balloons and second conduit means selectively connecting at least one balloon of one group with at least one balloon of another group.

7. An educational toy according to claim 1 including a manifold connected to said conduit means.

8. An educational toy according to claim 6 including a T-shaped conduit fitting selectively connected to said second conduit means.