Abstract:
A lighter-than-air balloon ( 17 ) is illuminated from within by an internal light source ( 18 ). This light source ( 18 ) may be energized by a power source carried on-board the balloon when aloft, or from a ground based power source ( 32 ) tethered to the balloon ( 17 ) by a conductor ( 30 ) connected to the light source ( 18 ). Spectators attending an event, usually a festive occasion, may use a switch  36 ) on ground to switch on and off the light source ( 18 ) aloft in the balloon ( 17 ). By displaying on an internally illuminated balloon ( 17 ) while aloft indicia ( 17   b ) of the subject being advertised, a very creative and effective advertisement is broadcaster over a wide geographically area potentially reaching millions of onlookers.

Description:
RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS &amp; INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE  
       [0001]    This application is a PCT application based on U.S. provisional patent application Serial No. 60/325,359, entitled “ILLUMINATED BALLOON, PORTABLE BALLOON KIT, ADVERTISING METHOD &amp; METHOD OF ENHANCING FESTIVE OCCASIONS,” filed Sep. 27, 2001. This related provisional is application incorporated herein by reference and made a part of this application. If any conflict arises between the disclosure of the invention in this PCT application and that in the related provisional application, the disclosure in this PCT application shall govern. Moreover, Applicant incorporates herein by reference any and all U.S. patents, U.S. patent applications, and other documents cited or referred to in this application or cited or referred to in the U.S. patents and U.S. patent applications incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Balloons are frequently used at parties or other events to create a festive atmosphere or promote and advertise. Cartoon characters are frequently printed on the surface of the balloons. Advertisements have also been imprinted, or otherwise, affixed to balloons. Balloons so marked with advertisements are distributed as gifts to prospective buyers to create buyer awareness for the advertiser&#39;s products or services.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    This invention, with its several desirable features, is defined in the CLAIMS that follow. After reading the following section entitled “DETAILED DESCRIPTION,” one skilled in the art will understand the benefits this invention provides. These benefits include, but are not limited to: (1) creating a festive atmosphere at parties, conventions, outdoor and indoor concerts, political rallies, and other events, (2) the novelty of an illuminated balloon bearing a favorite cartoon or other character or scene, (3) convenience of use and distribution, (4) low cost, and (5) providing a new advertising medium.  
           [0004]    Some, but not all, of the features of this invention are:  
           [0005]    With this invention, the characteristics of a lighter-than-air balloon, and its uses, are enhanced by illuminating the balloon from within. Indicia of a subject to be advertised may be displayed on such an internally illuminated balloon while aloft. This use of the internally illuminated balloon is to a novel and effective way to create advertisements with high viewer impact that are broadcasted over a wide geographically area, potentially reaching millions of onlookers. These onlookers may be prospective customers, voters, fans at sporting contests, military personnel, potential converts, or any other audience.  
           [0006]    The balloon of this invention includes an internal light source. This light source may be energized by a power source carried on-board the balloon when aloft, or from a ground based power source tethered to the balloon by a conductor connected to the light source. A switch may be used by persons, herein spectator(s), attending an event, usually a festive occasion, to switch the tethered light source on and off.  
           [0007]    According to the advertising method of this invention, indicia of a subject is displayed on a balloon illuminated from inside when the balloon is aloft. The balloon may or may not be tethered. A benefit of the tethered balloon is that the useful life of the power source, typically one or more batteries, is extended because the light source may be turned off when desired. The untethered balloon that carries with it aloft the on-board power source, once this power source is turned on it remains on until exhausted.  
           [0008]    A section of the balloon is transparent or translucent to enable light to illuminate the indicia of the subject and draw spectator attention to the illuminated balloon. At a gathering of spectators at an event promoted on behalf of, or by, the subject, at least one of the spectators sends an illuminated balloon aloft by inflating and releasing it. Preferably, many of the spectators release illuminated balloons advertising the subject. When the spectators do this simultaneously, the greatest advertising impact is achieved. The balloons may be tethered by a lightweight, two-way conductive wire to a ground based, portable control unit including the power source under the control of the on-off switch. Alternatively, a balloon-inflating device mounted on-board the balloon provides a light source and a power source therefor that is carried aloft with the balloon after inflation with the lighter-than-air gas. Typically, the balloon-inflating device is a rigid member that is inserted into an open mouth of the balloon that has a passageway therein to allow the lighter-than-air gas to flow into and inflate the balloon. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
       [0009]    The preferred embodiments of this invention, illustrating all its features, will now be discussed in detail. These embodiments depict the novel and non-obvious balloon, balloon-inflating device, balloon kit, and method of advertising of this invention as shown in the accompanying drawing, which is for illustrative purposes only. This drawing includes the following figures (Figs.), with like numerals indicating like parts:  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1 is a side elevational, schematic view of the first embodiment of this invention depicting a balloon-inflating device that is used to inflate and illuminate a balloon attached to this device.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 2 is a side elevational, schematic view of the balloon-inflating device shown in FIG. 1 attached to a balloon, with sections of the balloon broken away.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the balloon-inflating device shown in FIG. 1 using a transparent body member.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the second embodiment of this invention showing the unassembled components of a tethered, internally illuminated balloon device.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 4A is a side view, with sections broken away, of a tube with a light source at an end that is adapted to be inserted into the neck of a balloon.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing the assembled components of the tethered, illuminated balloon illustrated in FIG. 4, with sections of the balloon broken away.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 6 is a schematic view depicting a kit including components for assembling a number of tethered, illuminated balloons.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a hand-held, ground based, portable control unit displaying a cartoon character.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a balloon illuminated in accordance with this invention.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 9 is a schematic view depicting a tethered, illuminated balloon device of this invention, with sections of the balloon broken away, showing one embodiment of a closure member in an open position to allow the gas to enter a normally open end of the balloon to inflate the balloon.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 9A is a fragmentary view, with sections broken away, of the closure member used with balloon device shown in FIG. 9.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 10 is a schematic view similar to that of FIG. 9, depicting the closure member in a closed position.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 11 is a schematic view depicting a tethered, illuminated balloon device of this invention, with sections of the balloon broken away, showing an alternate embodiment of a closure member in an open position to allow the gas to enter a normally open end of the balloon to inflate the balloon.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 12 is a schematic view similar to that of FIG. 11, depicting the closure member in a closed position.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 13 is a side view, with sections broken away, of a partially deflated Mylar balloon showing an internal-self sealing gas conduit within the balloon in an open condition allowing gas to flow into the balloon.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 14 a side view, with sections broken away, of the Mylar balloon shown in FIG. 13 showing the internal-self sealing gas conduit within the balloon in a closed condition preventing gas from escaping from the balloon.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 15 is a perspective view, with sections broken away, of another embodiment of this invention using a Mylar balloon having an internal reflective surface.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
     Some Preferred Embodiments  
     A First Embodiment  
       [0027]    A first embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 2 is an internally illuminated balloon device  5  that is not tethered to the ground. It employs a balloon-inflating device  10  shown in FIG. 1. This balloon-inflating device  10  includes a rigid, tubular body member  12  having an inlet  12   a  and outlet  12   b  and orifices  13  between the inlet and outlet. The body member  12  may be made of a light weight, opaque material such as aluminum or a light weight, transparent plastic material such as illustrated by the body member  12   c  shown in FIG. 3. Preferably, the tubular body member  12  has a wall  15  of circular-cross section. There is a passageway  14  between the inlet  12   a  and outlet  12   b  to enable a lighter-than-air gas, such as, for example helium, to flow through the passageway  14 . A small canister holding the gas that is release quickly by a fast action release mechanism such as a pull string may be attached to the tubular body member  12 . As soon as the gas is released, the canister is detached from the tubular body member  12 . The gas flows into the inlet  12   a  and through the outlet  12   b , when a closure member such as, for example, a plug  16  has been manually moved between a closed position shown in FIG. 1, terminating any gas flow, to an open position shown in FIG. 2. The plug  16  has a circular-cross section, or tapered-cross section, when the body member  12  has a circular-cross section. Thus, the plug  16  fits snugly against the tubular wall  15  when pushed forward towards the outlet  12   b . With the plug  16  in the pushed forward position shown in FIG. 1, it closes off the orifices  13 , preventing gas from flowing through the inlet  12   a , either into or from this inlet. The plug  16  thus acts as a valve that enables the gas to flow into or from a balloon  17  attached to the body member  12  at the outlet  12   b.    
         [0028]    The balloon  17  comprises a lightweight inflatable member  17   a  made of an elastic, resilient material such as, for example, rubber or latex. Or, it may be made of an inelastic plastic material such as, for example, Mylar, that does not expand easily, but acts as a barrier to hold the gas within the balloon for an extended period of time. The balloon  17  has a transparent or translucent section  17   b  within an opaque background  17   b ′ and a cavity  17   c  having a neck  17   e  terminating in a single open end  17   d  through which the gas enters to fill the cavity and inflate the member  17   a.    
         [0029]    When the balloon  17  is attached to the body member  12  and the plug  16  is in the closed position, any lighter-than-air gas introduced into the balloon  17  does not escape from the cavity  17   c . As shown in FIG. 2, the tubular body member  12  extends into the neck  17   e  and pair of external O-rings  24  pulled snug over the external surface of the neck  17   e  hold the balloon  17  firmly to the body member  12 . The O-rings  24  are between the orifices  13  and the inlet  12   a  from which a portion of the plug  16  extends. These O-rings  24  serve as a balloon clamp adapted to hold the balloon  17  at the outlet  12   a  to enable it to be inflated with gas that flows into the inlet  12   a  though said passageway  14  and out the outlet  12   b . When the balloon is made of an elastic material, there is an elastic, rubber band type element  17   g  at the mouth  17   f  (FIG. 2) of the balloon at the end of the single open end  17   d  of the balloon. The rubber band type element  17   g  serves as a balloon clamp, thereby eliminating the need for the O-rings  24 .  
         [0030]    As depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2, the body member  12  holds a light weight light source such as, for example, a light bulb or light emitting diode (LED)  18  having a negative terminal  18   a  and a positive terminal  18   b  and a light weight power source such as, for example, alkaline batteries  20  (GP  27 A 12 volt sold by Radio Shack). The batteries  20  are connected by a spring  22  to a distal end  16   a  of the plug  16 . An internal O-ring  19  surrounds this distal end  16   a  and moves laterally with the plug  16  as the plug is manually moved between the open and closed positions. The plug  16  thus serves as a control switch connected in a circuit including the LED  18  and the batteries  20 . Upon inflating the balloon  17 , a spectator at an event pushes the plug  16  forward causing the passageway  14  to be closed off. At the same time as the plug  16  is pushed forward, it makes contact with the negative lead  18   a  of the LED  18  to complete a circuit to provide energy to the LED. This allows the balloon  17 , while suspended in the atmosphere, to be illuminated from inside of cavity  17   c . The balloon inflating device  10  is lighter than the inflated balloon  17 .  
       A Second Embodiment  
       [0031]    A second embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 4, 4A and  5  is an internally illuminated balloon device  9  that is tethered to the ground. As shown in FIGS. 4, 4A and  5 , the balloon  17  is tethered with a lightweight, two-way conductive wire  30  to a ground-based, portable control unit  32 . The weight of the wire  30  does not exceed the weight of the inflated balloon  17 . The wire  30  has two conductive strands  30   x  and  30   y  (FIG. 11) to allow current to travel from the control unit  32  to the LED  18  inside the balloon  17 .  
         [0032]    There are batteries  34  housed within the control unit  32 , which has a removable cover  32   a  to provide access to the batteries when they need to be replaced. The two-way conductive wire  30  has one end  30   a  connected to the LED  18  and another end  30   b  connected to the batteries  34 . As best shown in FIG. 4A, the LED  18  is mounted to the one end  30   a  of a tube  40 . The wall  40   c  of the tube  40  is broken away to show that a tunnel  38  is provided through which the wire  30  extends. A sealing substance  31  fills this tunnel  38  to avoid gas escaping from the tunnel. The tube  40  is inserted into the neck  17   e  of the balloon  17  to put the LED  18  within the cavity  17   c  of the balloon. The control unit  32  includes an on-off switch  36  that controls connection of the LED  18  to the batteries  34 . This switch may be a mechanical or push button electronic switch.  
         [0033]    The single open end  17   d  of the balloon  17  provides an inlet for the gas. This open end  17   d  is connected to an outlet  44   a  of a canister  44  containing helium and the helium flows from the canister under the control of a manually operable valve V to inflate the balloon. An O-ring  42  stretched around the exterior surface of the wall  40   c  acts as a closure member or balloon clamp adapted to hold the neck  17   e  of the balloon  17  firmly against exterior surface of the inserted tube  40 . After filling the balloon  17  with the helium gas, the tube  40  is inserted into the neck  17   e  and the O-ring  42  is pulled over the exterior of the neck  17   e . The O-ring  42  clamps the neck  17   e  tightly against the tube wall  40   c , so that the introduced gas does not escape from the balloon  17 . The on-off switch  36  is manually actuated to apply power to the LED  18 . The control unit  32  may include a music chip  48  and speaker  49  to provide a source of music. The LED  18  may be manually or automatically turned on and off synchronously with the music. Thus, with the balloon  17  aloft it is illuminated from inside, creating a visual effect than can be seen for great distances.  
       A Third Embodiment  
       [0034]    As illustrated in FIG. 6, a third embodiment of this invention is a balloon kit  50  including the following disassemble parts contained within a package  54 :  
         [0035]    (1) a light weight, not to exceed 5 pounds, portable tank or canister  44  of helium gas used to fill the balloons with gas periodically;  
         [0036]    (2) three balloons (or more)  52   a ,  52   b , and  52   c , each balloon having a different transparent or translucent section A, B and C;  
         [0037]    (3) three (or more) ground based, portable control units  32   x ,  32   y  and  32   z  having a battery compartment to holding a battery and an on-off switch;  
         [0038]    (4) three (or more) two-way conductive wires  30   x ,  30   y , and  30   z , each being in length of from 5 to 20 feet, with an LED  18   x ,  18   y  and  18   z  attached to tubes  40   x ,  40   y , and  40   z  by O-rings  42   x ,  42   y , and  42   z.    
         [0039]    These components are adapted to be assembled in the same manner as discussed in connection with the balloon  17  shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 so that each balloon  52   a ,  52   b , and  52   c  is illuminated from within each balloon. The advantages of the kit are its low cost, portability, and ease of distribution to a group of spectators at an event. There may be special events where large helium storage tanks having a weight in excess of five pounds is used, for example of large helium storage tanks weighing in excess of about 150 pounds, or greater, may be used advantageously. For example, the advertising method of this invention that is discussed in greater detail subsequently, may in many situations use such large helium storage tanks. A major benefit of this invention is that the internally illuminated balloons may be seen at great distances, especially at night. This increases the economic valve of the advertising method of this invention because an expanded audience is created, especially when large numbers of such balloons are released simultaneously. The different transparent or translucent section A, B and C may each correspond to indicia advertising the same subject, or to different subjects, or simply be a symbol of the like associated with an festive occasion such as, for example, holidays such as New Year, Fourth of July, Thanksgiving or other events such as birthdays, weddings, theme parks or theme park activities, etc.  
       A Fourth Embodiment  
       [0040]    A fourth embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 9, 9A and  10  is an internally illuminated balloon device  60  that is tethered to the ground. It is similar to the second embodiment of this invention in that it has a ground based control unit  32  with the wire  30  connected to the LED  18  lodged within the balloon  17 . The control unit  34  has a screw cap  34   f  that acts as a switch to open or close a circuit for the LED  18  by simply screwing in the cap in one direction or the other.  
         [0041]    A manually operated closure member, in some respects like the closure member depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2, is formed by a pair of lightweight tubes, for example, plastic or aluminum tubes  62  and  64 . These tubes  62  and  64  are telescopically mounted together and inserted as an assembly into the neck  17   e  of the balloon  17 . The external tube  62  has an orifice  66  in an intermediate position in the tube&#39;s wall  62   a  between an open end  62   b  and a closed end  62   c  of this tube. There is a passageway  64   d  extending between the open ends  64   b  and  64   c  of the internal tube  64 .  
         [0042]    The tube  64  is manually slideable between an open position shown in FIGS. 9 and 9A to unblock the orifice  66  and a closed position shown in FIG. 10 to block the orifice. Gas from the canister  44  is introduced into the end  17   d  of the balloon  17  through the open end  64   b  of the tube  64 . When unblock, the gas flows along the passageways  62   d  and  64   d , and then through the orifice  66  into the balloon  17 . The end  62   c  has the LED  18  attached to it by a bracket  70  that seals this end  62   c . The wire  30  extends through the passageways  62   d  and passageway  64   d . It has one end  30   a  electrically connected to the LED  18  and the other end  30   b  (FIG. 9) electrically connected to the batteries  34  in the control unit  32 . The abutting walls  62   f  and  64   f , respectively of the tubes  62  and  64 , are pushed snug against each other to close off and seal the orifice  66  when the internal tube  64  is moved inward as indicated by the arrow a.  
       A Fifth Embodiment  
       [0043]    A fifth embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 is an internally illuminated balloon device  78  that is tethered to the ground. It employs a closure member that opens automatically in response to the pressure of the gas being expelled from the canister  44 . This closure member comprises a tube  80  having a valve  82  positioned inside it. This tube  80  has one end  80   a  inserted through the open end  17   d  into the neck  17   e  of the balloon  17  prior to inflating the balloon. Its other end  80   b  is connected to the canister  44  when the balloon  17  is to be inflated. The two strands  30   x  and  30   y  of the wire  30  are inside the tube  80  and pass by the valve  82 . These strands  30   x  and  30   y  are sealed to prevent gas leakage from the balloon  17  when it is inflated. Electricity from the batteries  34  in the control unit  34  flows along the wire  30  under the control of the manually operated on-off switch  36  to and from the LED  18  along the separate electrical paths provided by the strands  30   x  and  30   y.    
         [0044]    The LED  18  is mounted by a spider bracket  84  to the end  80   a  of the tube  80 . The spider bracket  84  provides openings  84   a  through which gas passes when the valve  82  is opened. The other end  80   b  is also open to allow gas to flow through the tube  80  under the control of the valve  82 . The valve  82  has a hinged door  90  seated in the tube  80  that is biased by a spring  88  to close off the tube and prevent gas from entering the open end  17   d  of the balloon  17 . The spring  88  is weaker than the pressure of the gas in the canister  44 . Consequently, when the outlet  44   a  of a canister  44  is placed in fluid communication with the tube  80  and the valve V is opened, the door opens as shown in FIG. 12, allowing gas to flow into the balloon  17 . Discontinuing fluid communication between the canister  44  and the tube  80 , exposes the door  90  to atmospheric pressure, which is insufficient to overcome the biasing force of the spring  88 , resulting in the door closing to retain the introduced gas within the balloon  17 .  
       A Sixth Embodiment  
       [0045]    As shown in FIG. 15, a sixth embodiment of the invention comprises a balloon  100  having an internal reflective surface  100   a  that is internally illuminated by a light source  102 . This sixth embodiment is similar to the embodiments using a tethered balloon. It has a hand held battery control unit  104  with an on/off switch and a two-way conductor wire  106  used as the tethering string for the balloon. The two conductive wire  106  extends through a tube  108  and connects the light source to the control unit  104 , which includes batteries as the power source for the light source  102 .  
         [0046]    In this sixth embodiment, the balloon  100  is made of Mylar, or equivalent material. Many Mylar balloons have an internal metallized surface  100   a  that is reflective and an added self-sealing feature built into the balloon. As depicted in FIGS. 13 and 14 extending from the neck  100   b  of the balloon  100  into the balloon is a conduit  110  that is normally flatten in a closed position. The conduit is translucent or transparent to allow light the pass there through. Gas flows through this conduit  110 , opening it to fill the balloon  100 . When the pressure produced by the gas within the balloon is sufficiently elevated, the conduit  110  is again flatten and closed as depicted in FIG. 14. This balloon  100  is therefore self-sealing due to the back pressure of the gas inside the balloon. This keeps the lighter than air gas from leaking from the neck  10   b . This also makes it so that a Mylar balloon does not need to be tied off at the neck, but as shown in FIG. 15 preferably a n O-ring or rubber band  112  is used for this purpose. Because of the internal reflective surface  100   a  of the balloon  100 , the effect of illuminating the balloon internal is greatly enhanced.  
       Advertising Method  
       [0047]    Internally illuminated balloon devices of this invention provide a new advertising medium. Indicia of a subject to be advertised is placed on the balloon  17 . The indicia may be any name, image, symbol, trademark, company logo, party emblem, or other signs identifying the subject. The indicia may be imprinted, or otherwise formed, on the material of the balloon, for example being in the form of a silhouette or outline of a particular subject being advertised. This indicia is dramatically and visually displayed upon energization of the light source and may be seen at great distances, especially at night. The source of music discussed above in connection with the first embodiment may play music identified with the subject being advertised. Since balloons are low cost and may be reused, the advertising method of this invention is very affordable.  
         [0048]    Typically, a trademark is displayed on the balloon. For example, the transparent or translucent section  17   b  of the balloon  17  is an outline of the cartoon character, advertising, for example, an amusement park. At a gathering of spectators at an event promoted on behalf of, or by, the amusement park, at least one spectator sends the illuminated balloon  17  aloft by inflating and releasing it. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 7 is sized to be conveniently held in one hand of an adult user. The cover  32   a  may have an image, symbol, etc. of the subject being advertised displayed on the cover  32   a , for example, a figurine  46  of a cartoon character identified with the amusement park being advertised.  
         [0049]    This invention enables several spectators at an event to create an appealing array of floating balloons bearing images of cartoon characters, famous people, or company logos, etc. These internally illuminated balloons may be viewed by anyone attending the event, and even from afar by those not attending the event. This invention enhances balloons for all types of people: kids, parents, company parties, advertising, theme parks, movie productions, plays, car dealerships, or anyone else that would be in advertising from a distance. Very large balloons with internal lighting can be seen for miles. The Mylar balloons have a definite added advantage because the internal illumination makes them look three dimensional just by adding light to the inside of the balloon. The light allows the balloon to show its full potential in colored pictures or characters.  
       Festive Occasions  
       [0050]    At parties, or other festive occasions, internally illuminated balloons  21  having symbols, or favorite characters or scenes, thereon are inflated and released. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, a balloon  21  has a cartoon character  21   a  imprinted on the surface  21   s  of the balloon. The material from which this balloon  21  is made is sufficiently transparent or translucent to enable the light emanating from within the balloon to illuminate this character  21   a . The light shines through the material that is not imprinted with any opaque ink forming the outlines of the character. This draws spectator attention to the internally illuminated balloon  21 . In this case, the character  21   a  is invisible until the balloon  21  is illuminated. It is the illumination of the balloon  21  that displays the character  21   a  and makes it visible.  
       SCOPE OF THE INVENTION  
       [0051]    The above presents a description of the best mode contemplated of carrying out the present invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use this invention. This invention is, however, susceptible to modifications and alternate constructions from that discussed above which are fully equivalent. Consequently, it is not the intention to limit this invention to the particular embodiments disclosed. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications and alternate constructions coming within the spirit and scope of the invention as generally expressed by the following claims, which particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter of the invention: