Balloon structure

An apparatus is provided for displaying a visual exhibit. The apparatus includes a display unit for housing an exhibit and a chamber unit for housing the display unit. The display unit includes a transparent envelope having a proximal portion configured to form an opening for receiving the exhibit and a distal portion to cover and protect the exhibit. The chamber unit includes a transparent, expandable compartment defined by an outer wall. The wall is formed to include an aperture for permitting the exhibit to be inserted into the display unit from outside the chamber unit. The aperture is coupled to the proximal portion of the display unit to suspend the display unit inside the chamber unit. An inflator extends through the wall of the compartment for filling the compartment with a gas. The inflator is coupled to the display unit to orient the display unit in a predetermined relation inside the chamber unit.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to an inflatable display device, and particularly to 
a balloon structure having a transparent, inflatable outer compartment and 
a transparent display compartment situated in the interior space provided 
by the outer compartment so that a visual exhibit in a display compartment 
can be seen from outside the inflated outer compartment. 
Balloons are often used for advertising products and services, as well as 
events and activities. Conventionally, the advertising is printed on the 
exterior surface of the balloon so that, upon inflation of the balloon, 
viewers can read the advertisement. These balloons provide no flexibility 
to change the message displayed, and therefore balloons with new 
advertising must be ordered for each event or activity. 
One object of the present invention is to provide a balloon structure in 
which an exhibit can be easily changed, thereby providing flexibility in 
advertising. 
Another object of the present invention is to provide a display device for 
displaying a visual exhibit that is free from distortion and easy for the 
viewer to read. 
In accordance with the present invention, a balloon structure includes an 
inflatable body made of a transparent material and having a side wall 
configured to provide an interior volume defined within the inflatable 
body. The side wall is also configured to provide a slit opening that is 
in communication with the interior volume. The ballon structure also 
includes receptacle means extending into the interior volume of the 
inflatable body for receiving an article or exhibit, and fill means 
extending through the side wall for introducing a gas into the interior 
volume to inflate the inflatable body. The receptacle means is coupled to 
the side wall in communication with the slit opening in the side wall to 
permit the introduction of articles or exhibits into the receptacle means 
via the slit opening independent of the degree of inflation of the 
inflatable body. The receptacle means is also formed from a transparent 
material to permit visual inspection of the article or exhibit received in 
the receptacle means through the inflatable body. 
In preferred embodiments of the present invention, the balloon structure 
includes an expandable, transparent outer compartment and a generally 
planer, transparent display compartment for housing a visual display or 
exhibit. The display compartment is situated in the interior space 
provided by the outer compartment. A side wall of the outer compartment is 
formed to provide an access opening into the interior of the outer 
compartment. The display compartment includes an open proximal end coupled 
to the access opening so that access to the inner display compartment is 
available without deflating the outer compartment. 
The display compartment also includes a distal end suspended in the 
interior space of the outer compartment to support and protect the 
exhibit. A filler sleeve extends through another side wall of the outer 
compartment and is coupled to the distal end of the display compartment to 
orient the display compartment in a predetermined relation inside the 
outer compartment upon inflation of the outer compartment. 
The filler sleeve includes a first valve located near the point of 
intersection of the filler sleeve and the side wall of the outer 
compartment, and a second valve located near the coupling point of the 
filler sleeve and the inner display compartment. A gas-insertion tube can 
be inserted through the valves to introduce a gas into the interior space 
of the outer compartment. The valves automatically close to prevent gas 
from escaping the outer compartment upon removal of the gas-insertion tube 
after the interior space has been inflated to the desired level. 
The filler sleeve also includes outlet means for dispensing the gas 
introduced into the interior volume of the inflatable body in a direction 
away from the display compartment. This orientation acts to enhance the 
stability of the display compartment in its predetermined orientation 
during inflation of the outer compartment. 
One feature of the present invention is that the balloon structure is 
configured to permit the user to change the visual exhibit or article 
displayed within the balloon structure easily by providing an inflatable, 
transparent outer compartment and receptacle means for displaying the 
visual exhibit situated in the interior space provided by the outer 
compartment. The outer compartment is formed to include an access opening, 
thereby allowing an exhibit to be inserted directly into the receptacle 
means through a side wall of the outer compartment. One advantage of the 
foregoing structure is that the present invention permits substantial 
flexibility in advertising and allows the balloon structure to be reused 
for different events instead of being limited to a single event like 
conventional balloons. 
Another feature of the present invention is that the fill means extends 
through another side wall of the outer compartment and is coupled to the 
receptacle means to orient the receptacle means in a predetermined 
relation to the outer compartment upon inflation of the outer compartment. 
One advantage of the foregoing structure is that easy viewing of the 
visual exhibit from outside the transparent outer compartment is permitted 
by preventing movement or distortion of the exhibit. 
Additional objects, features, and advantages of the invention will become 
apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following 
detailed description of the preferred embodiment exemplifying the best 
mode of carrying out the invention as presently perceived.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
The balloon structure 10 shown in FIG. 1 includes a transparent, inflatable 
outer compartment 12, a transparent display compartment 14 situated in the 
interior space provided by outer compartment 12, and a filler sleeve 16. 
The outer compartment 12 includes a top side wall 20 having a top seam 22 
and a bottom side wall 24 having a bottom seam 26. 
The display compartment 14 includes a transparent envelope having an open 
proximal portion 28 and a distal portion 30 as shown in FIG. 2. The 
proximal portion 28 is coupled to top seam 22 of outer compartment 12. The 
top seam 22 is separated in the area abutting display compartment 14 to 
form opposite upturned edges 25. The upturned edges 25 of the separated 
top seam 22 are sealed on opposite side walls 15 of display compartment 14 
as illustrated in FIG. 3. An exhibit 18 can therefore be inserted into 
display compartment 14 through an access opening 36 without deflating 
outer compartment 12. Arrows 34 show the direction of insertion and 
extraction of an exhibit 18 from the display compartment 14. A seam 23 
seals the distal portion 30 of the display compartment 14 to maintain 
exhibit 18 in the proper position as shown in FIG. 2. 
Because the balloon structure 10 provides access to display compartment 14 
independent of the degree of inflation of outer compartment 12, the user 
can readily exchange exhibits 18 in a matter of seconds. The balloon 
structure therefore provides flexibility in advertising and can be used 
indefinitely. 
A filler sleeve 16 extends through bottom seam 26 of outer compartment 12 
and is coupled to seam 23 of display compartment 14 as illustrated in FIG. 
4. Bottom seam 26 is separated in the area abutting filler sleeve 16 to 
form downturned edges 27. The downward edges 27 are coupled on opposite 
side walls 17 of filler sleeve 16, thereby preventing gas from escaping 
outer compartment 12. Seam 32 of display compartment 14 is coupled to one 
side of filler sleeve 16 so that when outer compartment 12 is fully 
inflated the display compartment 14 is prevented from substantial rotation 
or movement inside outer compartment 12. 
The tethering function of filler sleeve 16 secures display compartment 14 
in a predetermined orientation inside outer compartment 12. A visual 
exhibit 18 can therefore by read easily through outer compartment 12 
without distortion of the visual image or distraction of the reader. 
Filler sleeve 16 includes a first valve 38 and a second valve 40 as shown 
in FIG. 2. First valve 38 and second valve 40 are located substantially 
near the center of filler sleeve 16. To inflate the outer compartment 12 
with a gas, a gas insertion tube (not shown) can be inserted into the 
filler sleeve 16 and desirably through first valve 38 and second valve 40. 
The filler sleeve 16 with first valve 38 and second valve 40 in their open 
positions form an air intake passage 42 in filler sleeve 16 as shown in 
FIG. 5. After inflation to a sufficient level, the side walls 17 of filler 
sleeve 16 will seal together in areas surrounding the first valve 38 and 
second valve 40 along the bottom seam 26 and seam 32 of the display 
compartment respectively, thereby preventing gas from escaping outer 
compartment 12. 
Filler sleeve 16 includes outlet means 44 (FIGS. 4 and 5) to dispense the 
gas introduced into the interior volume of outer compartment 12 in a 
direction away from display compartment 14. This directing of the 
inflowing air or gas enhances the stability of display compartment 14 in 
its predetermined orientation during inflation of outer compartment 12. 
In operation, a gas insertion tube (not shown) may be inserted into filler 
sleeve 16 so that the tube extends through first valve 38 and second valve 
40. A gas is then introduced into outer compartment 12 through the filler 
sleeve 16, thereby causing the outer compartment 12 to expand. The 
proximal portion 28 of display compartment 14 is open and coupled to the 
upturned edges 25 in top seam 22 of top side wall 20 to provide receptacle 
means for an exhibit so that display compartment 14 is suspended in the 
interior space provided by outer compartment 12. The filler sleeve 16 is 
coupled to the distal portion 30 of display compartment 14 to orient the 
display compartment in a predetermined relation inside the outer 
compartment 12. Outlet means 44 of filler sleeve 16 directs the incoming 
gas away from display compartment 14 to enhance the stability of the 
display compartment 14 inside outer compartment 12 during filling. 
The visual exhibit 18 can be inserted through access opening 36 into 
display compartment 14 independent of the degree of inflation of outer 
compartment 12. When outer compartment 12 is fully inflated, the exhibit 
18 is visible through the side walls of outer compartment 12. If the gas 
introduced into outer compartment 12 is lighter than air, a tether string 
46 can be attached to secure the balloon structure 10 in a predetermined 
position. The balloon structure 10 provides flexibility in advertising 
because the structure can be reused for each event by simply changing the 
exhibit 18 inside the structure. 
Although the invention has been described in detail with reference to a 
certain preferred embodiment, variations and modifications exist within 
the scope and spirit of the invention as described and defined in the 
following claims.