Abstract:
A balloon rotation apparatus includes a base; a rotator disk or plate rotatable on the base and having an air passage opening therethrough to a sealingly connectable balloon envelope; a motor drive including a plurality of resiliently tired wheels for supporting and rotating the rotator plate; a duct connected to the base and having a duct inlet for connection to a source of pressure gas, and a duct outlet located proximate rotator plate for feeding the pressure gas through the inlet passage for inflating the balloon and maintaining the inflation while the rotator plate is being rotated. The duct includes a flexible sheet enclosing at least a portion of the base having a ring rigidly supported proximate the rotator plate and having a portion of the sheet of the duct fastened thereto for forming the duct outlet, a plurality of leg supports being rigidly connected to the base and projecting outwardly from the sheet member of the duct. A locating plate is sealingly connectable to the balloon envelope opposite the inlet extremity, and elongate mast structure being engagable with the base for projecting above an upper extremity of the balloon envelope, the locating plate being rotatively and slidably supported on the mast structure, the mast structure having a coupling mounted proximate an upper extremity thereof for connecting a plurality of tethering lines in outwardly projecting relation to the balloon envelope for stabilizing same in alignment with the rotator plate.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     The present invention relates to balloons such as are used in display advertising, and more particularly to blower-inflated balloons that are typically at least several feet in diameter and tethered close to the ground or other supporting structure. 
     Large balloons are often used for advertising, especially outdoor advertising, to attract attention to a business itself, or a product being sold, being commonly referred to as “advertising inflatables.” In one commonly used form, a blower is connected by a flexible duct to a bottom neck inlet of a balloon envelope of thin sheet material, and the balloon is tethered by a plurality of tie-downs. In some cases, the outside of the balloon is brightly colored for attracting the attention of potential customers that will be induced thereby to identify nearby signage or other indicia of products and/or services being advertised. In other cases, the balloon is provided with such indicia, often together with content-neutral bright coloring. These balloons can have various shapes that are usually circularly symmetrical, but can also be simulative of product shapes and/or cartoon characters. 
     There is a trade-off between the size (and cost) of providing and maintaining the balloon and the effectiveness of the advertizing, the trade-off being complicated by competing needs of attracting attention and conveying information. Similarly, balloons that are merely used for decoration are subject to a corresponding trade-off between size (and cost) and the effectiveness or impact of the decoration. 
     Also, large balloons that are used outdoors are subject to being blown away or harmfully damaging nearby structures when subjected to high winds. 
     Thus there is a need for a balloon apparatus that has improved effectiveness for decoration, attention-getting and information display and that is pleasing in appearance, effectively anchored against high winds, inexpensive to provide and easy to erect. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present invention meets this need by providing a large inflatable balloon that rotates for more effectively attracting attention and for exposing a particularly large display surface area for a given size of the balloon. In one aspect of the invention, a balloon rotation apparatus includes a base; a rotator plate rotatably located relative to the base on a main axis and having an air passage opening therein; means for sealingly fastening an inlet extremity of a balloon envelope to the rotator plate with the air passage opening in fluid communication with an inflatable cavity of the balloon envelope; a motor drive for rotating the rotator plate relative to the main axis; and means for coupling gas under pressure to the air passage opening for inflating the balloon and maintaining the inflation while the rotator plate is being rotated. 
     The apparatus can further include an arbor member extending on the main axis, the rotator plate engaging the arbor member and being located thereby. The main axis can be vertical. The motor drive can include a powered drive wheel engaging the rotator plate. The drive wheel can be on a drive axis being inclined relative to the main axis, the drive wheel frictionally contacting a downwardly facing surface of the rotator plate. The drive wheel can be one of a plurality of support wheels being rotatably mounted relative to the base. The support wheels can rotate on respective horizontal support axes that intersect the main axis. Each of the support wheels can have a resilient tire member. 
     The apparatus can further include a locating plate having means for connecting the balloon envelope opposite the inlet extremity; and a coupling for connecting a plurality of tethering lines in outwardly projecting relation to the balloon envelope for stabilizing same in alignment with the rotator plate. Preferably the locating plate includes respective upper and lower locating plate members and means for sealingly clamping flexible sheet material between the locating plate members. The apparatus can further include an elongate mast structure; and means for connecting the mast structure upwardly projecting from the base proximately concentric with the main axis, the locating plate being rotatively and slidably supported on the mast structure, the coupling being mounted proximate an upper extremity of the mast structure. 
     Preferably the means for sealingly fastening includes the rotator plate having respective upper and lower rotator plate members, and means for sealingly clamping flexible sheet material between the plate members. The means for sealingly fastening can include a flexible sheet material neck ring sealingly clamped between the rotator plate members and projecting outwardly therefrom, the neck ring being adapted for being sealingly joined to the balloon envelope. 
     The means for coupling can include a duct connected to the base and having a duct inlet for connection to a source of the pressure gas, and a duct outlet fixably located proximate rotator plate for feeding the pressure gas into the inlet passage. The apparatus can further include a blower unit sealingly connected to the duct inlet for providing the pressure gas as pressurized air. The duct can include a flexible sheet member enclosing at least a portion of the base, the base having a ring member rigidly supported proximate the rotator plate and having a portion of the sheet member of the duct fastened thereto for forming the duct outlet. 
     The apparatus can have a plurality of leg supports rigidly connected to the base and projecting outwardly from the sheet member of the duct. Each of the leg supports can be formed having a leg attachment, the apparatus further including a plurality of leg members for removably engaging a respective leg attachment, and means for rigidly holding the leg members in outwardly projecting relation to the leg supports for stabilizing the base. Preferably each of the leg members is adapted for connecting an anchor line to external structure for anchoring the base in a fixed location. 
     The balloon rotator apparatus can be in combination with the balloon envelope. 
    
    
     DRAWINGS 
     These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings, where: 
     FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a rotating balloon apparatus according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective exploded view showing assembleable components of the apparatus of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a portion of the apparatus of FIG. 1 on line  3 — 3  therein; 
     FIG. 4 is a plan view of a portion of the apparatus of FIG. 1 on line  4 — 4  of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a portion of the apparatus of FIG. 1 on line  5 — 5  of FIG.  3 . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
     The present invention is directed to a rotating balloon apparatus that is particularly effective for attracting attention and displaying advertising content. With reference to FIGS.  1 - 5  of the drawings, a rotating display balloon apparatus  10  includes an inflated balloon envelope  12  rotatably supported by a base  14  having an air supply duct  16  fluid-connected to a blower  18  for pressurizing and maintaining inflation of the balloon. In an exemplary configuration, the balloon envelope includes a spherical main portion  12 A and a neck portion  12 B of reduced diameter. A drive mechanism  20  is supported by the base for turning the inflated envelope  12  as described below. As shown in FIGS.  2 - 5 , the base  14  includes a frame  22  having a plate arbor  24  upwardly projecting on a main axis  25 , and a ring member  26  for supporting an extremity of the duct  16  to form a duct outlet  28  approximately concentric with the arbor  24 , at least a portion of the duct  16  being formed of a flexible sheet member  30  that preferably encloses at least a portion of the frame  22  as further described below. 
     The drive mechanism  20  includes a rotator disk or plate  32  that is sealingly connected to an inlet extremity  33  of the balloon envelope  12 , the plate  32  having one or a plurality of inlet passage openings  34  therethrough for feeding pressure air from the duct outlet  28  into a main cavity  35  of the balloon envelope, thereby inflating the envelope to form a semi-rigid structure. The rotator plate  32  also has a central opening  36  that slidingly engages the plate arbor  24  for locating the plate concentric with the main axis  25 . Optionally, a flexible sheet material inlet ring  37  is sealingly joined to the rotator plate  32  as described below for facilitating the connection to the inlet extremity  33  of the balloon envelope  12 . The balloon envelope  12  is supported by the rotator plate  32  on a plurality of support wheels  38 , including a drive wheel  38 A and a pair of idler wheels  38 B, that rollingly contact a downwardly facing rim surface  39  of the rotator plate  32 . As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the support wheels  38  rotate on respective horizontal support axes  40  that intersect the main axis  25 , the drive wheel  38 A being fastened to an output shaft  41  of a drive motor  42  that is rigidly fastened to the frame  22 . 
     The idler wheels  38 B are rotatably mounted on respective axle shafts  44  that are also rigidly fastened to the frame  22 , the drive motor powering rotation of the inflated balloon envelope  12  by frictional contact of the drive wheel  38 A against the rim surface  39  of the rotator plate  32 , as enabled by the drive wheel  38 A supporting a significant portion of the weight of the balloon envelope  12  (and the rotator plate  32 ). A motor suitable for use as the drive motor  42  is available as Dayton gear motor (14 RPM, {fraction (1/60)} HP), Stock No. 4Z062, from Grainger Co. at numerous locations including Northridge, Calif. Another suitable motor (28 RPM, {fraction (1/25)} HP) is similarly available under Stock No. 4Z063. 
     A preferred configuration of the rotator plate  32  is formed by a nearly identical pair of plate members, designated upper plate member  32 A and lower plate member  32 B as shown in FIG.  5 . The plate members are each formed with counterparts of the inlet passage openings  34  and the central opening  36 , as well as a plurality of fastener openings  46 , the fastener openings of the lower plate member  32 B being preferably countersunk as indicated at  46 ′ for receiving respective threaded fasteners  47  that are substantially flush with the downwardly facing rim surface  39  for facilitating a close spacing of the rim surface  39  above the duct outlet  28  to achieve a desired degree of sealing with not more than incidental rubbing contact between the duct outlet  28  and the rotator plate  32 . The fasteners  47  serve to sealingly clamp the inlet ring  37  of the balloon envelope  12  between the plate members  32 A and  32 B. A preferred material for the plate members  32 A and  32 B is Lexan® polycarbonate plastic, 0.19 inch thick, a suitable size being 23.75 inches in diameter. The inlet openings  34  are suitably four in number, having a diameter of approximately 6 inches for a total inlet area that is not less than the outlet area of the blower  18 . The optional inlet ring  37 , which can be cut to an outside diameter of approximately 6 feet from 9 oz. vinyl coated nylon material, extends sufficiently inwardly between the plate members  32 A and  32 B to include counterparts of the fastener openings  46  whereby the ring  37  is secured by engagement with the fasteners  47  in addition to the clamping of the plate members. The ring  37  can further extend inwardly, if desired, to include counterparts of the inlet openings  34  and the central opening  36 . Also, the inlet ring  37  can have a non-circular outline, particularly when the balloon envelope  12  is irregularly shaped. The inlet ring is sewn into the balloon envelope  12  around the inlet extremity  33  in a conventional manner. Alternatively, the inlet extremity  33  itself extends between the rotator plates  32 A and  32 B in like manner. 
     A preferred configuration of the base  14  has the frame  22  entirely enclosed by a bag shaped outlet portion  16 ′ of the duct  16 . A plurality (typically three) leg holders  48  are fastened to the frame  22  by respective pluralities of leg fasteners  49 , portions of the outlet portion  16 ′ being clamped between the frame  22  and the leg holders  48 . The leg holders are adapted for telescopically receiving respective stabilizer legs  50  that form outwardly projecting support extremities of the base  14 . Each of the legs  50  has a tie-down loop  51  attached at the free end thereof, the legs  50  being anchored to the respective holder by counterparts of the leg fasteners  49 . The legs  50  can be formed of suitable lengths of 1 inch square steel tubing, mating portions of the leg holders  48  being formed of 1.25 inch square tubing having a wall thickness of 0.09 inch. Thus the stabilizer legs  50  serve to robustly support the base  14  on a supporting surface  52  while maintaining the main axis  25  vertically oriented (particularly during subsequent further assembly of the device), as well as to provide connection points for ground-level tether lines  53  that can be connected to nearby stationary structures  54  as shown in FIG.  1 . The tie-down loops  51  are also adapted for receiving anchoring stakes (not shown) that can be used when the supporting surface  52  is the ground. 
     The outlet portion  16 ′ of the duct  16  includes a generally rectangular piece of the sheet member  30  having semi-circular cutouts at opposite ends, and a disk-shaped floor element  56 , the perimeter of the floor element being sewn along one side edge of the sheet member  30 , the opposite ends of the sheet member being similarly sewn together except as interrupted by the semi-circular cutouts as indicated at  55  in FIG.  5 . The opposite side edge of the sheet member  30  is fastened to the ring member  26  of the frame  22  in any suitable manner, such as by a spaced plurality of rivets, with an upper marginal extremity of the sheet member  30  preferably projecting slightly above the ring  26  for permitting sliding contact with the rotator plate  32  with the frame  22  being spaced below the plate  32 . A tube portion  16 ″ of the duct  16  is formed of a rectangular piece of flexible material having opposite side edges sewn together and one end being sewn along the semi-circular cutouts of the outlet portion sheet member  30 . The opposite end of the tube portion  16 ″, and the outlet of the blower  18  are provided with mating strips of a hook-loop fastener  57  as shown in FIG. 2 for completing a sealed connection between the duct  16  and the blower  18 , with adjustment to the size of the blower outlet being facilitated by the seam joining the opposite side edges being foreshortened approximately 9 inches from the blower end, and additional hook-loop fastener strips  57  being applied to form an adjustable closure. Suitable devices for use as the blower  18  are commercially available from a variety of sources in sizes ranging from 0.25 HP to 1 HP, being also used for drying rooms and carpets. As shown in FIG. 5, the outlet portion  16 ′ is provided with an openable flap  58  having counterparts of the hook-loop fasteners  57  for passing a power cord  59  to the motor  42  and to an outlet  59 ′ for feeding lighting fixture(s) (not shown) that can be supported within the main cavity  35  of the balloon envelope  12 . 
     The frame  22  is configured having three generally C-shaped frame legs  60 , including a motor leg  60 A and a pair of wheel legs  60 B, approximately equally spaced about the main axis  25 , upper inside extremities of the legs  60  being welded to the plate arbor  24 , lower inside extremities of the legs  60  being welded to a shorter length counterpart of the plate arbor, designated frame arbor  24 ′. Each axle shaft  44  is welded to a rectangular axle plate  62 , that is in turn fastened to a corresponding wheel leg  60 B by a pair of plate fasteners  63 , the sheet member  30  of the duct outlet portion  16 ′ being clamped between the plates  62  and the wheel legs  60 B. A motor plate  64  is permanently incorporated by being welded into the motor leg  60 A for mounting the drive motor  42 . A gusset plate  66  is welded to the undersides of the frame arbor  24 ′ and the frame legs  60 , and respective brace members  67  are welded between lower outside extremities of adjacent ones of the frame legs  60 , the ring member  26  being welded proximate outside upper extremities of the frame legs  60  as shown in FIG.  4 . The leg fasteners  49  and the plate fasteners  63  threadingly engage respective machine nuts  68  as shown in FIG.  5 . It will be understood that suitable nut plates can be attached to the frame  22  at appropriate locations for use in place of the nuts  68 . 
     A tubular pole socket  69  extends through the arbors  24  and  24 ′ for receiving a mast unit  70 , the socket  69  being welded to inside wall portions thereof opposite the motor leg  60 A so as to create a passage for the power cord  59  as shown in FIG.  5 . Also, a portion of the motor leg  60 A extends under the motor  42 , being welded to the pole socket  69  for augmenting support of the motor. The arbors  24  and  24 ′ can be formed of suitable lengths of 2.5 inch outside diameter steel tubing, the pole socket  69  being formed of 1.88 inch outside diameter steel tubing, each piece having a wall thickness of 0.065 inch. The frame legs  60 , the brace members  67 , and upper portions of the leg holders  48  can be formed of suitable lengths of 1 inch steel angle having a flange thickness of 0.13 inch. Suitable wheels for use as the support wheels  38  and having pneumatic tires of approximately 10 inches in diameter are available from a variety of sources, the drive wheel  38 A being provided with a suitable hub for rigid mounting on the output shaft  41 , the idler wheels  38 B having antifriction bearings for free rotation on the axle shafts  44 . 
     The mast unit  70  includes a tie-down pole  72  of length L that projects upwardly from the pole socket  69 , being supported by the socket  69  and the gusset plate  66 . The pole  72  also projects through an upper extremity of the balloon envelope  12 , having a tie-down coupling  74  at the top for connecting a plurality of tie down lines  75 , each of the lines  75  being anchored in a suitable manner at a distance X from the main axis  25  as shown in FIG.  1 . The tie-down lines  75  can be formed of 1-inch wide nylon straps having suitable clip and adjustable clamp terminations, having a pull rating of 1,900 lbs. In the exemplary configuration of the balloon envelope  12 , the main portion  12 A has a diameter D and the neck portion  12 B has a height B, the rotator plate  32  being at a distance A of approximately 2 feet above the supporting surface  52 . As further shown in FIG. 1, when the length L is 21 feet and the distance X is 25 feet, the tie-down lines  75  clear the envelope  12  when the diameter D is not more than 14 feet and the neck height B is not more than about 2 feet. Equivalently, the tie-down lines  75  clear a spherical diameter D′ of not more than  16  feet above the rotator plate  32  as indicated by broken lines in FIG. 1, the diameter D′ corresponding to a spherical balloon envelope not having the neck portion  12 B. 
     Although the pole  72  can be provided in one piece, it is contemplated that it be segmented as shown in FIG.  2 . In an exemplary configuration, the pole includes a base segment  72 A, an extension segment  72 B, and a top segment  72 C, at least the segments  72 B and  72 C having a main portion  76  and an extension portion  77  of reduced diameter for telescopic assembly of the segments. As further shown in FIG. 2, the base segment  72 A has a lower extremity thereof swaged to a reduced diameter for facilitating insertion into the pole socket  69 . The pole  72  is commercially available in a single 21 foot length of 1.63 inch outside diameter tubing having a wall thickness of approximately 0.063 inch and being swaged to a reduced diameter at one end for telescopic assembly. The segmented configuration shown in FIG. 2 can be provided by cutting the base segment  72 A to a length of 8 feet, the remainder of the  21 ′ length being cut in half to form the main portions  76  of the segments  72 B and  72 C. Three-foot lengths of smaller pipe are then inserted approximately 18 inches into the main portions  76  and welded on opposite walls thereof to provide the extension segments  77  projecting approximately 18 inches therefrom. In this manner, the extension segments  77  can be provided having greater wall thickness than the base segment  72 A and the main portions  76  of the extension and top segments  72 B and  72 C, thereby to provide enhanced resistance to lateral deflection of the pole  72 . Conveniently, the pole segments  72 A,  72 B, and  72 C, made as described above, each have an overall length of 8 feet for facilitating shipping. 
     A counterpart of the rotator plate  32 , designated top plate  80 , slidingly engages the pole  72  for stabilizing an upper extremity of the balloon envelope  12 . The top plate  80  includes a pair of plate members  82  having a central opening  83  to provide a free running fit on the pole  72 , each of the plate members having counterparts of the fastener openings  46 , but not the inlet passage openings ( 34 ). Accordingly, the plate  80  rises up on the pole sections  72 A,  72 B, and  72 C when the balloon envelope  12  is inflated for rotationally laterally supporting the envelope  12  concentrically with the pole  72 . 
     A principal feature of the present invention is that the balloon envelope  12  can have an advertising message that extends over the full circumference, rather than being confined to one side. Also, whatever pattern is displayed is made dramatically more effective by the rotation imparted by the mechanism  20 . Advantageously, the apparatus  10  can be configured to represent a figure, such as a world globe or a toy top, which is expected to be rotating. The additional advertising effectiveness is believed to justify significantly enhanced rental revenue and/or product sales. 
     Another advantageous feature of the present invention is that the mast unit can be erected and tied down before inflation of the balloon envelope  12 , for added safety and ease of erection in windy conditions. Further, when high winds are expected, the motor  32  and the blower  18  can be deactivated for collapsing the balloon envelope with the apparatus  10  remaining secured in place by the tether lines  53  and the tie-down lines  75 . 
     Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions are possible. For example, the apparatus  10  can be scaled up or down to different sizes as desired. The base  14  can be provided with longer and thicker counterparts of the stabilizer legs  50  so that the tie-down lines  75  can be omitted when the apparatus  10  will not be subjected to high winds. For indoor applications, the mast unit  70  can also be omitted, a suitable ring being installed on the plate arbor  24  for retaining the rotator ring  32  in alignment. Alternatively, the top plate  80  can be rotatably mounted on a spindle having a plurality of radiating arm attachments for the tie-down lines, the mast unit  70  being omitted. The motor  42  can be operated with a timer whereby the rotator plate  32  stops and reversed direction at intervals. Alternatively, the balloon envelope can be configured for imparting rotation by wind action. Also, the balloon envelope  12  can be sealed and pressurized, the duct  16  and the blower  18  being omitted. Moreover, a plurality of helium-filled balloons can be substituted for or added to the balloon envelope  12 . When used without the envelope  12 , individual balloons can be anchored at the rotator fasteners  47  on the plate  32 . Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not necessarily be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained herein.