Water balloon dart

A toy water balloon dart system is disclosed comprising a dart tail that attaches to a water balloon before the water balloon dart is propelled over a distance for the amusement of children and adults. The toy water balloon, in one or more embodiments, also includes a pump for filling the balloon with fluid. The pump has a flexible housing with a reservoir with an inlet port and an outlet port. A first valve is associated with the inlet port to permit fluid to enter through the inlet port into the pump.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to a toy water balloon dart assembly. 
2. Description of the Related Art 
A water balloon is usually prepared by attaching the neck of a conventional 
balloon to a water spout with the water running inside the balloon until 
the balloon is filled with water. The user is required to hold the neck of 
the increasingly heavy balloon under the spout until the balloon is full 
of water. This may present a problem as the portion of the neck held by 
the user gradually becomes more and more slippery and the balloon may slip 
and fall. 
A conventional infant aspirator may also be employed for filling a balloon 
with water. However, this may present a problem as the aspirator nozzle is 
not designed to fit the neck of a conventional balloon which may slow down 
the filling operation and frustrate unnecessarily the user. 
Alternatively, a number of known water pumping devices have been used by 
children trying to fill a balloon with water. For example, children have 
been known to tie the neck of a balloon to a conventional toy high 
pressure water gun and then shoot water continuously inside the balloon 
trying to fill the balloon with water. This operation is not easy to 
accomplish as the water gun muzzle is not designed to fit the neck of a 
water balloon which may frustrate the user and result in broken balloons. 
Various water pumps have been employed in the past to fill a balloon with 
water. Such pumps are usually portable, and have nozzles specifically 
designed for use with water balloons. Such devices typically have a nozzle 
designed to fit the neck of a standard balloon and should be capable of 
fast filling operation thereby eliminating all of the above-described 
problems. Such a device should be usable not only in the home but anywhere 
where there is a ready supply of water, such as in a swimming pool, lake, 
ocean or the like. 
After the balloon is filled with water, the balloon is often used by 
children in games that usually involve propelling the water-filled balloon 
in the air at a target for amusement. Depending to a certain extent on the 
amount of water contained in the balloon, the speed of the propelled 
balloon, and the target surface, the water balloon may splash at impact 
with the target shooting water over a relatively large area for the 
delight of children playing with the water balloon. 
Variations of this popular game are known. One such game involves using a 
so-called "water bazooka". The water bazooka employs a water balloon 
mounted in a barrel which is detachably connected to a trigger mechanism. 
The water balloon is secured by an elastic band which is also attached to 
the trigger mechanism. The actuation of the trigger mechanism propels the 
water balloon in the air. This type of launching requires time to master 
and may not be easy to use by young children. This water balloon launching 
device is also relatively heavy, is manufactured from a number of parts 
and is relatively expensive. 
Another known water balloon launching device is a water balloon catapult 
which includes traditional slingshot components. The catapult is equipped 
with a finger guard to protect the fingers of the user during use of the 
device, however, this type of launching device may not be safe for use by 
young children and requires some time from the user to master its 
operation. 
A variation on the above theme is the water balloon toss sling which 
includes a pouch adapted for seating a water-filled balloon and a pair of 
cords permitting rotational movement for tossing the water balloon from 
the sling. Such a device may be unsafe for use by young children and may 
injure the user if not used properly. 
Accordingly, the need arises for a simple water balloon toy that can be 
easily propelled in the air by children or adults, is safe, inexpensive, 
portable and can be reused. Such a water balloon toy should preferably be 
used in combination with a portable, easy to use, efficient and hand-held 
water balloon pump designed specifically for use with water balloons. Such 
a combination should be easy to assemble and safe to use so as to be 
enjoyed by young children and adults alike. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention is directed to a toy water balloon dart system for 
the amusement of children and adults. The water balloon dart system of the 
present invention comprises a tail for facilitating flight of a water 
balloon. The tail has a front end configured for removably coupling to a 
portion of a filled water balloon. 
In one embodiment of the present invention, the tail has a body with a 
plurality of aerodynamic longitudinal fins spaced apart from one another 
extending along at least a portion of the length of the body for 
facilitating flight of the water balloon dart. The tail body has a 
shaft-like configuration and is generally in the shape of a hollow 
cylinder aerodynamically tapered at one end similar to the tail of an 
aircraft. The aerodynamic tail which resembles the tail of a dart helps 
the water balloon maintain an even trajectory to improve the distance and 
accuracy of a thrown water balloon. In the preferred embodiment of the 
present invention, the tail is made of a light-weight, elastic material to 
prevent any damage or injury to the target. The tail body includes a slit 
at the front end of the tail, preferably in the shape of a key hole, for 
receiving and securing a portion of a filled water balloon. 
To assemble the dart, the user inserts the knotted neck of the water-filled 
balloon into the key-hole slit while pulling the balloon neck portion 
below the knot along the slit in a direction toward the back end of the 
tail until the water-filled balloon is securely coupled to the front end 
of the tail body. Having assembled the toy water balloon dart, the user 
manually propels the water-filled balloon dart in the air at a target with 
the filled water balloon possibly splashing on impact and shooting water 
in all directions for everyone's amusement. 
A pump for filling the water balloon with water of the type well-known in 
the art may typically comprise a flexible housing having a reservoir with 
a fluid inlet port for communicating with an outside body of water and a 
fluid outlet port. The fluid outlet port is configured for coupling to a 
water balloon for filling the water balloon with water contained in the 
pump reservoir. A valve is associated with the fluid outlet port having an 
open position for permitting fluid to exit from the pump through the 
outlet port and a closed position for enabling suction of fluid into the 
pump through the inlet port. Compressing the flexible housing of the pump 
causes the valve to be in the open position, and decompressing the 
flexible housing causes the valve to be in the closed position. The valve 
preferably has a disk-like configuration and is provided with an inner 
tongue formed by a partial annular cut of the valve. 
Alternatively, the pump for filling the water balloon with water may have a 
second valve associated with the outlet port, with an open position for 
permitting fluid to exit from the pump through the outlet port, and a 
closed position for enabling suction of fluid into the pump through the 
inlet port. Compressing the flexible housing causes the first valve to be 
in the closed position and the second valve to be in the open position, 
and decompressing the flexible housing causes the first valve to be in the 
open position and the second valve to be in the closed position. The pump 
preferably includes a nozzle coupled to the outlet port for injecting 
fluid into the water balloon and for frictionally securing the second 
valve over the outlet port inside the nozzle. The nozzle is configured to 
be easily inserted into the open end of an unfilled water balloon such 
that the balloon forms a tight seal around the nozzle to prevent water 
from leaking during the filling of the balloon. 
The pump may also include a cap coupled to the inlet port for frictionally 
securing the first valve under the inlet port inside the cap, the cap 
being open on both ends for allowing fluid flow into the inlet port. The 
first valve preferably has a disklike configuration and is provided with 
an inner tongue formed by a partial annular cut of the first valve. The 
second valve is preferably identical in shape, construction and function 
to the first valve. Each valve permits fluid flow in only one direction. 
The valves operate such that when one valve is open, the other valve is 
closed and vice versa. Such a valve arrangement permits the continuous 
filling of a balloon attached to the nozzle via the outlet port while the 
cap enclosing the inlet port is in communication with a body of water. 
The pump is used by inserting the inlet port of the pump in a body of water 
such as a pool, sink, or pail for example, with the user manually and 
repeatedly squeezing the outer walls of the pump until water squirts out 
of the nozzle. The user then securely inserts the nozzle into the opening 
in the neck of a conventional balloon and manually pumps the balloon full 
of water. The filled water balloon is then removed from the nozzle and the 
open end of the balloon is tied in a knot, leaving a portion of the 
balloon neck unfilled and hanging below the knot for handling. 
These and other embodiments of the present invention will become apparent 
from the following detailed description of the invention and accompanying 
drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
The following description includes the best mode presently contemplated for 
carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a 
limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of describing the 
general principles of the invention. The scope of the invention should be 
determined with reference to the claims. 
In FIG. 1, a toy water balloon dart in accordance with the present 
invention is shown and generally referred to by the numeral 20. In the 
preferred embodiment of the present invention, toy water balloon dart 20 
has a tail 22 with a front end 23 and a back end 25. A water balloon 24 
adapted to be filled with a fluid is shown in dotted line coupled to the 
front end 23 of tail 22. Tail 22 is shaped like the tail of a conventional 
dart and has a body 28 having a shaft-like configuration. The front end 23 
of tail body 28 is preferably provided with a slit 26 cut roughly in the 
shape of a key hole for coupling to water balloon 24. The exterior of tail 
body 28 has three aerodynamic longitudinal fins 30, 32, and 34 which 
extend along a portion of the length of the tail body 28 toward the back 
end 25 of tail 22 for facilitating flight of the water balloon dart. Fins 
30, 32 and 34 are solid and shaped like the stabilizing tail fins of a 
real airborne missile. Fins 30, 32 and 34 are identical in shape and 
construction and are symmetrically spaced apart from one another at an 
angle of approximately 110 degrees to ensure aerodynamic stability during 
flight. 
As shown in FIG. 2, the preferred dimensions of fin 32 are as follows: 
length of side 32a is approximately 2.25 inches, length of side 32b is 
approximately 1.125 inches, length of side 32c is approximately 1 inch, 
length of side 32d is approximately 2.75 inches, thickness of fin 32 is 
approximately 0.125 inches. The preferred dimensions of fins 30 and 34 are 
identical to the above dimensions. The fins are made of flexible, 
light-weight synthetic rubber. Other materials and shapes for manufacture 
of the fins may be used without departing from the intended purpose of the 
present invention. Each fin is preferably glued to the exterior of tail 
body 28 with other attachments being possible or may be formed as an 
integral part of tail 20. 
As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 4, 5 and 7, tail body 28 is generally in the shape 
of a hollow cylinder and is aerodynamically tapered at the back end 25 
similar to the tail of an aircraft. The aerodynamic tail helps the water 
balloon 24 maintain an even trajectory to improve the distance and 
accuracy of a thrown water balloon. The preferred length 28a of tail body 
28 is about 3.25 inches. Front end 42 of tail body 28 has a circular 
configuration with a preferred diameter of about 0.625 inches and is 
provided with slit 26 cut roughly in the shape of a key hole having a 
circular portion 26b and an elongated portion 26c for receiving the 
knotted neck of filled water balloon 24. The preferred length 26a of slit 
26 is about 0.375 inches. The preferred diameter of circular portion 26b 
of slit 26 is about 0.06 inches. The preferred length of elongated portion 
26c of slit 26 is about 0.25 inches and the preferred width of elongated 
portion 26c is about 0.05 inches. 
A portion of the exterior surface of tail body 28 between fins 32 and 34 is 
provided with a cutout 38 which exposes the hollow inside of tail body 28 
and has two arc-shaped sides which connect in the front with slit 26. The 
preferred width 38a of cutout 38 in its widest section is about 0.25 
inches. Tail body 28 is preferably made of strong, light-weight and 
inexpensive plastic that is designed to withstand impact with most targets 
and can be reused in accordance with the present invention. Other 
materials may be employed for manufacture of the tail provided that they 
are suitable for the intended purpose of the inventive device. 
The overall preferred weight of dart tail 22 is about 0.35 ounces. It will 
be appreciated that variations on the aerodynamic shape and weight of tail 
22 may be employed provided that they do not depart from the intended 
purpose of the present invention. 
As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, water balloon 24, in the preferred embodiment of 
the present invention, is a balloon filled with water and tied with a 
standard knot 36 to prevent escape of the water. Knot 36 has a generally 
circular cross section and is tied such that unfilled neck portion 44 of 
balloon 24 remains below knot 36 to facilitate handling the filled water 
balloon. 
Water balloon dart 20 is assembled by coupling the neck 47 of the knotted 
water-filled balloon 24 to the front portion of tail body 28 via slit 26. 
The coupling is done manually by the user by pushing knot 36 inside tail 
body 28 via cutout 38, while at the same time inserting a portion 45 of 
the filled neck 47 of balloon 24 which is directly above knot 36 inside 
elongated portion 26c of slit 26. The user then pulls on unfilled neck 
portion 44 via cutout 38 in a direction toward the back end of tail body 
28 until neck balloon portion 45 is frictionally lodged inside circular 
portion 26b of slit 26. Circular portion 26b of slit 26 being wider than 
elongated portion 26 of slit 26 in effect securely locks and frictionally 
holds the neck of filled water balloon 24 inside slit 26 completing the 
coupling of filled water balloon 24 to front end 42 of tail body 28. By 
pulling on knot 36, balloon neck portion 45 stretches elastically as it is 
forced inside slit 26. The forced stretching of the balloon wall as it 
enters slit 26 pushes more water in the water-filled portion of balloon 24 
left outside slit 26 thereby increasing the internal water pressure on the 
walls of balloon 24. This causes the outside water-filled portion of 
balloon 24 to stiffen which improves the flight dynamics of the coupled 
toy water balloon dart. 
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, tail body 28 is 
provided on front end 42 with a single slit 26 for coupling with balloon 
24. Alternatively, front end 42 may be modified, without departing from 
the intended purpose of the present invention, and provided with multiple 
slits for coupling and supporting multiple water-filled balloons. In this 
case, suitable modifications to the size, weight and shape of tail 22 
should be made to accommodate the additional load. 
FIG. 8 shows toy water-filled balloon dart 20 flying in the air like a real 
missile. The water-filled balloon 24 is shown securely coupled to front 
end 42 of tail body 28. It will be appreciated that balloon 24 is not 
limited to being filled with water, which is the preferred choice for 
users of toy balloon dart 20, but may also be filled with any other fluid 
suitable for the intended purpose of the present invention. 
As described above, novel toy balloon dart 20 can be mass produced at a 
relatively low cost which makes it affordable by the general public. 
Referring to FIGS. 9-15, a fluid pump in accordance for use with the water 
balloon dart of the present invention is shown and generally referred to 
by the numeral 50. As shown in FIG. 11, fluid pump 50 comprises a housing 
52 having a fluid reservoir 54 with a fluid inlet port 56 at one end and a 
fluid outlet port 58 at the opposite end. Fluid inlet port 58 has a 
circular configuration with an overall preferred diameter of about 0.3 
inches. Fluid outlet port 58 also has a circular configuration with an 
overall preferred diameter of about 0.3 inches. Fluid reservoir 54 is 
flexible, roughly bulb-shaped and has generally an oval cross section. The 
preferred dimensions of housing 52 are: overall height about 2.75 inches, 
overall width (in its widest portion) about 2 inches and internal distance 
from side to side (in its widest part) about 0.8 inches. Housing 52 is 
preferably made of light-weight, flexible plastic although other materials 
may be used if they serve the intended purpose of the inventive device. 
The top portion of reservoir 54 is capped by a nozzle 60 whose function is 
to inject fluid such as water into the neck of balloon 24. Nozzle 60 is 
designed to snap over the top portion of housing 52 enclosing fluid outlet 
port 58 which empties water under pressure into the interior of nozzle 60 
during operation of the pump. Nozzle 60 is generally frustum-shaped, 
hollow inside and open on both ends with a relatively narrow top circular 
opening 62 and a relatively larger bottom circular opening 63. Top opening 
62 serves to let water out of nozzle 60 and has a preferred diameter of 
about 0.125 inches. 
As shown in FIG. 11, bottom opening 63 of nozzle 60 serves to let water 
inside nozzle 60 and has a preferred diameter of about 0.3 inches which 
allows it to snap over fluid outlet port 58 whose overall diameter is 
approximately the same. The preferred weight of nozzle 60 is about 0.05 
ounces and the preferred height of nozzle 60 is about 1.25 inches. The top 
portion of nozzle 60 is dimensioned to fit snugly into the neck of a 
conventional water balloon to allow continuous water injection into the 
balloon. Nozzle 60 is also provided with an inner recess 70 which has 
radial symmetry and preferably has a side wall length (measured from 
bottom opening 63 upwards) of about 0.35 inches. FIGS. 11-14 show recess 
70 rising from bottom opening 63 upwards and ending at edge 71 which 
projects radially inward. Nozzle 60 is preferably made of light-weight 
plastic although other materials may be used if they serve the intended 
purpose of the present invention. 
The bottom portion of reservoir 54 is covered by a cap 57 which is open on 
both ends to allow fluid such as water flow into fluid inlet port 56. Cap 
57 is generally frustum-shaped with a preferred weight of about 0.05 
ounces. The hollow interior of cap 57 is dimensioned to snap over the 
bottom portion of housing 52 and completely enclose fluid inlet port 56. 
Cap 57 is preferably made of light-weight plastic although other materials 
may be used if they serve the intended purpose of the present invention. 
Referring to FIGS. 12-14, pump 50 also includes a pair of valves for 
regulating fluid flow into and out of reservoir 54. In particular, FIG. 12 
shows a valve 64 located inside nozzle 60 over fluid outlet port 58 in an 
open configuration. Valve 64 has a disk-like configuration with an overall 
diameter approximately the same as the overall diameter of fluid outlet 
port 58. Valve 64 is provided with an inner tongue 65 which is formed by a 
partial annular cut of the inside of valve 64 SO that when tongue 65 is up 
(valve 64 is open) it has a partial disk-like configuration while the rest 
of valve 64 has a partial annular configuration. An annular flexible 
washer 59 of roughly the same diameter as valve 64 and made of synthetic 
rubber is preferably positioned between valve 64 and fluid outlet port 58 
to help lock valve 64 in place when nozzle 60 snaps over the top portion 
of housing 52 completely enclosing valve 64 and washer 59 inside. 
When nozzle 60 is snapped over the top portion of housing 52, valve 64 is 
prevented from sliding upward in the interior of nozzle 60 by edge 71 
which projects radially inward and is configured to abut the entire 
annular portion of valve 64 allowing tongue 65 of valve 64 to freely move 
upward (valve 64 is open) inside between e. Valve 64 is therefore securely 
sandwiched between edge 71 and washer 59 during operation of the pump. 
When valve 64 is open, water from the interior of reservoir 54 can pass 
via outlet port 58 into nozzle 60. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 13, 
when tongue 65 is down (valve 64 closed) it closes outlet port 58 and 
enables suction of water into the interior of reservoir 54 through fluid 
inlet port 56. 
FIG. 13 shows a valve 66 located inside cap 57 above fluid inlet port 56 in 
an open configuration. Valve 66 is identical in construction, dimensions, 
weight and make to valve 64. Valve 66 is also provided with an inner 
tongue, in this case tongue 67, which is identical to tongue 65 of valve 
64. When cap 57 snaps over the bottom portion of housing 52 it completely 
encloses and frictionally secures valve 66 under fluid inlet port 56. When 
valve 66 is open, water from the outside body of water such as a pool, 
sink or pail for example, can pass via inlet port 56 into the interior of 
reservoir 54. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 14, when tongue 67 is down 
(valve 66 closed) it closes inlet port 56 and prevents partial leakage of 
water through inlet port 56 into the outside body of water. 
The operation of fluid pump 50 is designed so that whenever valve 64 is 
closed, valve 66 is open and vice versa. This permits the continuous water 
filling of balloon 24 when attached to nozzle 60 as described above as 
long as cap 57 is in constant communication with the outside body of 
water. 
Valves 64 and 66 are made of flexible, light-weight, thin synthetic rubber 
although other materials suitable for the intended purpose of the pump may 
be employed. 
The overall preferred weight of water pump 50 is about 0.35 ounces which 
makes for a portable and easy to use hand-held pump that can be used by 
adults and children alike. Other shapes and designs for the various 
components of the novel fluid pump may be employed. As described above, 
fluid pump 50 is constructed of a few relatively simple parts and can be 
mass produced at a relatively low cost which makes it affordable by the 
general public. Water pump 50 may be used with water or any other suitable 
fluid. 
Referring again to FIGS. 12-14, the operation of the water pump is as 
follows. The user first completely immerses cap 57 which contains fluid 
inlet port 56 into a body of water. Next, the pump is actuated by manually 
squeezing the outside walls of the bulb-shaped reservoir 54 to remove air 
that may be present in the interior of reservoir 54. Compression of the 
outside wall of reservoir 54 increases the internal gas pressure on the 
inside walls of reservoir 54 and causes valve 64 to open thereby letting 
internal air out of reservoir 54 via fluid outlet port 58 into nozzle 60. 
Conversely, immediate decompression of the outside wall of reservoir 54 
creates a suction effect inside reservoir 54 which causes valve 64 to 
close and valve 66 to open allowing water (from the outside body of water) 
flow inside reservoir 54 via fluid inlet port 56. Another compression of 
the outside wall of reservoir 54 closes valve 66 and opens valve 64 
letting water under pressure inside nozzle 60 via fluid outlet port 58. 
Immediate decompression of the outside wall of reservoir 54 again creates 
a suction effect which closes valve 64 and causes valve 66 to open letting 
more water inside reservoir 54 via inlet port 56. Repeat manual 
compression/decompression of the outside wall of reservoir 54 by the user 
would eventually result in water squirting out of top opening 62 of nozzle 
60. It will be appreciated that cap 57 must be kept immersed in the 
outside body of water at all times as noted above for the above operation 
to proceed and when water starts to squirt out of opening 62 of nozzle 60, 
then nozzle 60 should be inserted into the neck of balloon 24 for filling 
the same with water. 
FIG. 15 shows the injection of water into balloon 24 from nozzle 60. The 
user simply inserts nozzle 60 tightly into balloon 24, holds the balloon 
with one hand and fills the balloon with water squeezing pump 50 with the 
other hand. 
The above-described inventive toy water balloon dart system is portable, 
inexpensive, safe for using, not harmful to the environment and can 
provide non-stop entertainment for children and adults alike. 
While the invention herein has been described by means of specific 
embodiments, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto 
by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the 
invention set forth in the claims.