Patent ID: 6431938
Filing Date: 2002-08-13
Classification: A63B

Abstract:
An inflatable balloon assembly for use in combination with a shuttlecock which has an inner skirt, the assembly comprising:a balloon which incorporates a balloon inlet (1) and an inflatable portion (8), the inflatable portion (8) having a closed end (15) opposite said balloon inlet (1), an inflating device which incorporates a flexible inflating tube (3, 4), and a compressing device which has a small hole (5) through which the said balloon inlet (1) extends thus forming a compressed area (11) in said balloon inlet (1), characterized in that said flexible inflating tube (3, 4) incorporates two parts having substantially different external diameters namely, a larger external diameter part (3) which remains outside the said compressed area (11) and which is adapted to be connected to a pump and, adjoining the said larger external diameter part (3), a substantially smaller external diameter part (4) the free end of which extends through the inside of said balloon inlet (1) within said compressed area (11) thereof into the inflatable portion (8) of said balloon, and the inflatable balloon assembly further comprises a large bore tube (14), a part of said closed end (15) of said balloon extending into one end of the said large bore tube (14), the arrangement being such that the inflatable portion (8) of the balloon may be drawn, by means of said large bore tube (14) into a space within said shuttlecock which is surrounded by the said inner skirt thereof, the inflatable portion (8) being adapted to be subsequently inflated within said space.