Aerial toy and method of use

An aerial toy including an aerial flying toy object that at least one of floats, flies, and soars in air for an extended period of time; an aerial flying toy string tethered to the aerial flying toy object; an aerial flying toy raising and lowering assembly including: a handle; a housing including a top, a front, and a rear; an aerial flying toy string reel rotatably carried within the housing and carrying the aerial flying toy string; an electric motor carried within the housing and operably coupled to the balloon string reel for driving rotation of the balloon string reel; a power source carried within the housing for powering the electric motor; an aerial flying toy string snag prevention mechanism that helps prevent snagging of the aerial flying toy string.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention is in the field of balloon toys for helium-filled balloons.

2. Related Art

Balloons filled with helium are widely used for children's enjoyment. In general, these balloons are not offered with any other purpose or additional potential other than a weight so the balloon will not fly away.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, an aspect the invention involves a balloon toy that increase a child's enjoyment of a helium-filled balloon. The balloon toy can be held by the child and is simple and easy to operate. The balloon toy includes an elongated housing with a small aperture at a front end where a balloon string attached to a helium-field balloon protrudes. The housing carries a power source in a handle of the housing near its rear end. The power source powers a motorized reel assemblage within the housing adjacent its front end. An UP/DEFAULT-BRAKE/DOWN switch is used to activate and deactivate the power source for powering the internal motorized reel. The balloon toy enhances the pleasure of having a helium-filled balloon through the internal motorized reel in the toy that releases or retracts the balloon string, allowing the child to control the altitude of the balloon by lengthening and shortening the length of the balloon string with the push of a button on the toy. The balloon toy is light-weight and its size is easily grasped by a child's hand. This balloon toy will animate amusement parks in general as balloons will change constantly on the horizon as multiple users engage in its use.

One or more implementations of the above aspect of the invention include one or more of the following: the power source comprises an electrical battery pack and motor; the power source is provided by a solar panel and motor; the motorized reel assembly includes a spool on a fixed anchor that turns in tandem with the motor by means of a band and sprockets; the activation and deactivation is in the form of a DPDT electrical switch; and/or the activation and deactivation is in the form of a simple switch for the motor and a gear release function on the switch.

Another aspect of the invention involves a balloon toy including a mechanism which allows the release of the helium-filled balloon at different speeds and prevents the release of the string from backing up in the housing and snagging. The balloon is returned to the user in a fast-motorized manner that can be controlled by starting or stopping the motor and thus controlling the return rate of the balloon. A return gear of the motor is biased into gear engagement by a spring so that if the balloon encounters high winds or a tree branch, the return gear disengages (i.e., gears slip relative to each other) so that the motor will not immediately compromise the balloon string and cause it snap. This spring-engaged gear also prevents the motor from burning out with no movement of the string (e.g., if the balloon encounters high winds or a tree branch), which lengthens the life of the motor.

The user can then wait to remedy the undesirable condition.

A further aspect of the invention involves a balloon toy including a helium-filled balloon; a balloon string tethered to the balloon; and a balloon raising and lowering assembly including: a housing including a handle; a gear assembly including a plurality of gears carried with the housing and operable coupling the electric motor to the balloon string reel for driving rotation of the balloon string reel; a biasing member including a biasing force that urges the gear assembly together so that the plurality of gears are engaged for driving rotation of the balloon string reel for drawing in the balloon string and helium-field balloon and allows the plurality of gears to slip relative to each other if tension on the balloon string is too high.

One or more implementations of the aspect of the invention described immediately above include one or more of the following: the balloon toy includes an UP mode where the helium-filled balloon rises, causing the balloon string reel to rotate in a first direction to let out the balloon string and the helium-filled balloon, the balloon toy further including a stop system that allows rotation of the balloon string reel in the first direction and prevents significant rotation of the balloon string reel in a second direction opposite to the first direction, preventing recoil of the balloon string on the balloon string reel as the helium-filled balloon rises; the balloon toy includes a DOWN mode where the stop system is disengaged and the electric motor is actuated, causing the balloon string reel to rotate in the second direction to draw in the balloon string and the helium-filled balloon; the balloon toy includes a BRAKE mode where the stop system is disengaged and the plurality of gears are engaged so that balloon string is not drawn out from the balloon string reel and the balloon string reel does not rotate unless tension on the balloon string is high enough to cause the plurality of gears to slip relative to each other; and/or the balloon toy includes a rocker switch having at least the UP mode, the DOWN mode, and the BRAKE mode, which are mutually exclusive.

A further aspect of the invention involves a method of using a balloon toy including descending the helium-filled balloon by drawing in the balloon string and helium-filled balloon by rotating the balloon string reel through the electric motors and gear assembly; and urging the gear assembly together with a force sufficient for engaging the plurality of gears together for driving rotation of the balloon string reel for drawing in the balloon string and helium-field balloon and sufficient for allowing the plurality of gears to slip relative to each other if tension on the balloon string becomes too high.

One or more implementations of the aspect of the invention described immediately above include one or more of the following: the method further includes ascending the helium-filled balloon by letting out the balloon string from the balloon string reel and rotating the balloon string reel in a direction opposite to a direction for drawing in the balloon string; and preventing significant rotation of the balloon string reel in the direction for drawing in the balloon string and recoiling of the balloon string on the balloon string reel as the helium-filled balloon rises with a stop system; the method further includes actuating a DOWN mode in the balloon toy, the DOWN mode disengaging the stop system and actuating the electric motor to cause the balloon string reel to rotate to draw in the balloon string and the helium-filled balloon; the method further includes actuating a BRAKE mode in the balloon toy, the BRAKE mode disengaging the stop system and engaging the plurality of gears so that balloon string is not drawn out from the balloon string reel and the balloon string reel does not rotate unless tension on the balloon string is high enough to cause the plurality of gears to slip relative to each other; and/or the balloon toy includes a rocker switch having at least the UP mode, the DOWN mode, and the BRAKE mode, which are mutually exclusive, and the method further includes moving the switch to one of the UP mode, the DOWN mode, and the BRAKE mode.

Another aspect of the invention involves an aerial toy, comprising: an aerial flying toy object that at least one of floats, flies, and soars in air for an extended period of time; an aerial flying toy string tethered to the aerial flying toy object; an aerial flying toy raising and lowering assembly including: a handle; a housing including a top, a front, and a rear; an aerial flying toy string reel rotatably carried within the housing and carrying the aerial flying toy string; an electric motor carried within the housing and operably coupled to the balloon string reel for driving rotation of the balloon string reel; a power source carried within the housing for powering the electric motor; an aerial flying toy string snag prevention mechanism that helps prevent snagging of the aerial flying toy string.

One or more implementations of the aspect of the invention described immediately above include one or more of the following: the aerial flying toy string snag prevention mechanism includes an aerial flying toy string centering mechanism that centers the aerial flying toy string with respect to the aerial flying toy string reel; the aerial flying toy string centering mechanism includes a swivel with a small centered hole that the aerial flying toy string slides within for centering the aerial flying toy string with respect to the aerial flying toy string reel; the aerial flying toy string centering mechanism includes a top member with a small centered hole that the aerial flying toy string slides within for centering the aerial flying toy string with respect to the aerial flying toy string reel; at least one of the front, rear, and top of the housing includes an opening that exposes the aerial flying toy string on the aerial flying toy string reel, allowing a user to continually monitor the aerial flying toy string to prevent and remove snags; at least one of the front, rear, and top of the housing includes an openable and closeable door for accessing and closing access to the opening that exposes the aerial flying toy string on the aerial flying toy string reel; at least one tab in the housing to facilitate opening and closing of the door relative to the housing; a snag-proof inner housing lining without crevices and catches that lead to hooking and snagging of the aerial flying toy string; the balloon toy includes an UP mode where the helium-filled balloon rises, causing the balloon string reel to rotate in a first direction to let out the balloon string and the helium-filled balloon, the balloon toy further including a stop system that allows rotation of the balloon string reel in the first direction and prevents significant rotation of the balloon string reel in a second direction opposite to the first direction, preventing recoil of the balloon string on the balloon string reel as the helium-filled balloon rises; the balloon toy includes a DOWN mode where the stop system is disengaged and the electric motor is actuated, causing the balloon string reel to rotate in the second direction to draw in the balloon string and the helium-filled balloon; the balloon toy includes a BRAKE mode where the stop system is disengaged and the plurality of gears are engaged so that balloon string is not drawn out from the balloon string reel and the balloon string reel does not rotate unless tension on the balloon string is high enough to cause the plurality of gears to slip relative to each other; the balloon toy includes a rocker switch having at least the UP mode, the DOWN mode, and the BRAKE mode, which are mutually exclusive; the aerial flying toy object is a balloon; and the aerial flying toy object is a kite.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Certain embodiments as disclosed herein provide for a balloon toy100and method of used. Although the aerial flying toy object is described herein as a balloon, in alternative embodiments, the aerial flying toy object is a kite, glider, parachute toy, or other flying, floating, and/or soaring toy object that at least one of floats, flies, and soars in air for an extended period of time. Thus, although the aerial flying toy is described herein as a balloon toy, in alternative embodiments, the aerial flying toy is a kite toy, glider toy, parachute toy, or other flying, floating, and/or soaring toy.

With reference initially toFIGS. 1-3, the balloon toy100includes a balloon raising and lowering assembly117including a housing or casing101, an UP/DEFAULT-BRAKE/DOWN switch102with push buttons118,119, a battery access door103in a handle120near a near rear end122of the housing101, an opening or small aperture104at a front end124of the housing101, a balloon string105, and a helium-filled balloon106. Although the housing101is shown as heaving a substantially guitar-like configuration, in one or more additional embodiments, the housing101may have an alternative configuration to make the toy100have an appearance of a cartoon character or any other pleasant form that a child will enjoy.

With reference toFIGS. 4-6, the internal components of the balloon toy100carried within the housing101will be described. The balloon toy100includes a motor107that drives a drive gear126, a string reel108(e.g., holding about 200-300 ft of string) with string wheel gear128and annular stop mechanism129having protruding curved stop fingers113to prevent string snagging, a spring-biased intermediate gear109, a biasing mechanism130, a spring110, power source/one or more batteries111(e.g., AAA 1.5 volt batteries), an electric on/off switch112, a stop tab114, and a stop-release tab115.

In one or more additional embodiments, the location of one or more of the motor107, the reel108, the switch102, and/or the one or more batteries111can be other than that shown herein.

Except for the conducting metals in the motor107and the one or more batteries111, the materials used to fabricate the balloon toy100are provided from any suitable source such as, but not limited to, metal, wood, plastics, and the like as well as a combination thereof. Preferably, durable and lightweight plastic materials are preferred such as, but not limited to, high density polyethylene, polypropylenes, polysulfones, and polystyrenes.

The balloon toy100will now be described in use. The motor107is controlled by the external switch102to control the string reel108. The switch102also has a gear-release function to allow the helium-filled balloon to lift and draw out the string105from the reel108. When the DOWN button118of the switch102is pressed, the on/off switch112is activated, causing the motor107to rotate drive gear126. Because intermediate gear109is biased against the drive gear126and the string reel gear128by the biasing mechanism130via the spring110, the intermediate gear109is engaged with the other gears126,128so that motor rotation causes the reel108to rotate and retract the string105onto the reel108and into the front end124of the housing101, through the aperture104. As the reel108retracts the string105, the helium-filled balloon106exerts pressure on the string105. In this mode, the biasing mechanism130urges (via the spring110) stop-release tab115against the stop tab114, causing the stop tab114to disengage/clear the protruding curved stop fingers/stops113of the annular stop mechanism129. This allows the reel108and annular stop mechanism129to freely rotate counter clockwise inFIG. 6to draw the string105in. The amount of biasing force in the biasing mechanism130(via the spring110) is such that the gears (and/or teeth of the gears)109,126,128slip relative to each other in the event of a high-tension condition in the string105(e.g., high-tension in the string105caused by high winds, the balloon106being caught, the balloon106being completely drawn into the toy100, etc.) because the tension force on the balloon106and string105(e.g., from the high wind) can be greater than the strength of the motor107, which would compromise (e.g., burn out) the motor107. The biasing mechanism130solves this problem because it allows the gears109,126,128to slip if the tension is too great. The user can then decide to wait for the high-tension condition to stop (e.g., wind to die down) or decide to use other means to retract the balloon106such as manually. When the gears109,126,128slip relative to each other, they make a noise, which also serves as an alarm to the user that the gears109,126,128are slipping and to stop pressing the “DOWN” button119.

The switch102also has a “DEFAULT” or “BRAKE” position/mode when the DOWN button118is not pressed and the UP button is not pressed (i.e., no pressure from the user, which keeps the string reel stationary), where the user can elect the height at which to leave the balloon106in the air. In this DEFAULT-BRAKE mode, because intermediate gear109is biased against the drive gear126and the string reel gear128by the biasing mechanism130via the spring110, the intermediate gear109is engaged with the other gears126,128but the motor is not rotating. As a result, this gear engagement functions as a brake so that the string reel108is substantially locked into position so that the length of the string105drawn out from the reel108is at a desired length and the balloon106stays at a desired height. As mentioned above, if a high-tension condition occurs in the balloon106/string105(e.g., high-tension in the string105caused by high winds, the balloon being caught, etc.), the biasing mechanism130solves this problem because it allows the gears109,126,128to slip if the tension is too great. The user can then decide to wait for the high-tension condition to stop (e.g., wind to die down) or decide to use other means to retract the balloon106such as manually. Similar to the DOWN condition/position, in the DEFAULT-BRAKE condition, the biasing mechanism130urges (via the spring110) stop-release tab115against the stop tab114, causing the stop tab114to disengage/clear the protruding curved stop fingers/stops113of the annular stop mechanism129.

The switch102also has UP or release button/function119that when pressed allows the balloon106to lift and the string105to draw out from the reel108by the pull of the helium-filled balloon. By pressing on the UP button119, the user has complete control of how much string105the user wants drawn out from the reel108(and the height at which the balloon106can fly) limited to the length of the string105provided. Pressing on the UP or release button moves the biasing mechanism130and the stop-release tab115down/away from the stop tab114, causing the stop tab114to ride along rotation of the annular stop mechanism129. This allows the reel108and annular stop mechanism129to freely rotate clockwise inFIG. 6to release the string105out in one direction only as the balloon pulls on the string105. The annular stop mechanism129and stop tab114(i.e., stop system) prevents the recoil of the string105as the helium-filled balloon106is released by its own power/pull. The stop tab114is activated and engages the protruding curved stop fingers/stops113of the annular stop mechanism129only if the reel108recoils in the wrong direction. As mentioned above, the stop-release tab115disengages the stop system114,129when the motor107is actuated because the reel108/annular stop mechanism129moves in the direction of (against) the stop top114when engaged by the motor107. The stop system may be referred to as a “feather weight” stop system because the force of the stop tab114on the annular stop mechanism129is so low/light, that the reel108is easily rotated and the string105drawn out by the light pull of the helium-filled balloon106.

The UP/DEFAULT-BRAKE/DOWN switch102prevents the operator from making a mistake because the “UP”, “DEFAULT-BRAKE”, and “DOWN” positions are the switch102are mutually exclusive. One can not activate one of these conditions/positions without deactivating the other two. The switch102is a single-piece rocker style switch with UP button118and DOWN button119connected by rocker/see saw132so that only UP position/mode or DOWN position/mode can be activated at a time. A spring urges the switch102into the DEFAULT/BRAKE ON position/mode, which is in the middle/horizontal orientation of the rocker/see saw132(neither UP nor DOWN are active in this position). The user can only push UP button118or DOWN button119temporarily because letting go of either button118,119causes that respective function to cease and the rocker switch102moves to the middle/horizontal orientation (DEFAULT-BRAKE condition).

With reference toFIG. 7, another embodiment of a balloon toy200will be described. The balloon toy200is similar to the balloon toy100described above with respect toFIGS. 1-6and, thus, the description with respect toFIGS. 1-6is incorporated herein and will not be further described.

The balloon toy200includes a number of string snag prevention mechanisms that helps prevent snagging of the aerial flying toy string. These string snag prevention mechanisms will be described below.

The balloon toy200includes an opening202adjacent a terminal end of the housing/casing101that exposes balloon string105on the string reel108. Exposing the balloon string105allows the user to continually monitor the balloon string105to prevent snags and/or remove snags of the balloon string105. Although the opening202is shown along a front204, a top206, and a rear208of the housing101, in alternative embodiments, the opening is along one or more of the front204, the top206, and/or the rear208of the housing101(e.g., opening along front, front/top, rear, rear/top, or front/rear).

The balloon toy200includes a string centering mechanism in the form of a swiveling arm210that is pivotally connected along opposite sides212,214of the housing101. The swiveling arm210includes a small hole216centered along the arm210so as to allow the string105to retract into the string reel108in the middle of the string reel108, to prevent the string105to build up on only one end of the reel108and prevent the string105that is returning with coils to enter the reel108and snag the string105before it happens inside in the housing101.

The balloon toy200includes a snag-proof inner housing lining220with no crevices, catches, or other objects that lead to potential hooking/snagging areas of the string105.

FIG. 8illustrates a further embodiment of a balloon toy300that is similar to the balloon toy200shown and described with respect toFIG. 7, but includes an openable/closeable door302that is hingeably coupled to the front204of the housing101. The easy-to-open door302allows the user to easily open and access the reel108. Opening the door302to exposes the balloon string105to allow the user to continually monitor the balloon string105to prevent snags and/or remove snags of the balloon string105. Although the door302is shown along the front204of the housing101, in alternative embodiments, the door302is along one or more of the front204, the top206, and/or the rear208of the housing101.

FIG. 9Aillustrates one or more tabs310disposed in the top206of the housing101adjacent a string centering mechanism in the form of a small hole in the top206of the housing101. The tab(s)310serve as fastening/releasing mechanism(s) for closing and fastening the door302to the housing101and opening the door302relative to the housing101to expose the balloon string105to allow the user to continually monitor the balloon string105to prevent snags and/or remove snags of the balloon string105.

FIG. 9Billustrates another embodiment of one or more tabs320disposed in the top206of the housing101adjacent a string centering mechanism in the form of a small hole in the top206of the housing101. The tab(s)310serve as fastening/releasing mechanism(s) for closing and fastening the door302to the housing101and opening the door302relative to the housing101.

FIG. 10illustrates another embodiment of a balloon toy400that is similar to the balloon toy200, except the swiveling arm210is replaced with a string centering mechanism in the form of a small hole in the top206of the housing101. The top bridge member402is molded with the rest of the housing101. The top bridge member includes a small centering hole404centered along the top bridge member402so as to allow the string105to retract into the string reel108in the middle of the string reel108.

FIG. 10also illustrates some example aerial flying toy objects (e.g., balloon, kite, parachute toy) that may be used with the embodiments of the toys100,200,300,40. In alternative embodiments, other aerial flying toy objects may be used.

In one or more additional or alternative embodiments, one or more of the balloon toys described here includes a shorter or longer length of string105, the motor107is faster or slower so that the string105is reeled in faster or slower, one or more gears are added so that the string105is reeled in faster or slower, one or more gears are different than those described/shown herein so that the string105is reeled in faster or slower, and/or the power in the one or more batteries111is increased or decreased so that the string105is reeled in faster or slower.

The above figures may depict exemplary configurations for the invention, which is done to aid in understanding the features and functionality that can be included in the invention. The invention is not restricted to the illustrated architectures or configurations, but can be implemented using a variety of alternative architectures and configurations. Additionally, although the invention is described above in terms of various exemplary embodiments and implementations, it should be understood that the various features and functionality described in one or more of the individual embodiments with which they are described, but instead can be applied, alone or in some combination, to one or more of the other embodiments of the invention, whether or not such embodiments are described and whether or not such features are presented as being a part of a described embodiment. Thus the breadth and scope of the present invention, especially in any claims that follow, should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments.