Hand held balloon tier

A balloon knot tying device that has a base with dual rods provided for stretching the leading end of an inflated balloon around to assist in tying a permanent knot. Each rod having at least two diameters to provide a retaining edge so the balloon will not slide down onto the base during the knot tying operation. The base with dual rods can be attached to different holding devices such as a ring shaped device for inserting at least 1 finger or a handle shaped device for gripping. The knot tying operation consisting of holding the balloon against the side of the device and stretching the leading end around the rods to form a loop. The leading end is then crossed under the loop through a relief area and up between the two rods. The leading end is then pulled off of the rods to form a permanent knot.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to tying a permanent knot in an elastic party balloon.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

People purchase elastic party balloons for decorating at parties and the like. After purchasing the balloons, the two main steps in forming them are 1. Inflate the balloon and 2. Tie the balloon. The market currently has pumps available to inflate the balloons with ease. But, a device to tie the balloons is not readily available. Today most people who are not able to blow up a balloon can purchase and own a balloon pump. But, people who have trouble tying balloons can not easily purchase a balloon tying device. Balloons are normally tied by wrapping the balloon around your pointer and middle fingers. Then, trying to tuck the end between the two fingers to close the loop and make a permanent knot. The elastic material the balloons are made of makes this very difficult usually resulting in fatigue, sore, even bleeding fingers. People usually end up frustrated and helpless. There is a need for a hand held device to make tying balloons less painful. The present invention is simple and fills the need of the consumer whether young or old to be able to tie a balloon with ease and without damaging the balloon.

A noteworthy hand held device patent is U.S. Pat. No. 5,568,950 issued October 1996, which is a Hand Held Balloon Tying Device that is a non-reversible u-shaped device with a single one-sided retaining edge. U.S. Pat. No. 6,540,267 issued April 2003 is Balloon Tie-aiding Device with two parallel finger-like supports with no retaining edge that is clamp mounted. U.S. Pat. No. 4,989,906 issued February 1991 is a Device For Tying An Elastic Balloon that is a tank mountable bracket, which holds the balloon neck while the end is stretched and tied. U.S. Pat. No. 5,882,051 issued March 1999 is a Knot-Tieing Device And Method Of Knotting Therewith that is flat with a trapezoidal shaped opening. This device is held between the thumb and index finger, which could be unsteady when tying the balloon on the opposite end. Some devices to aid in balloon tying that have patents are U.S. Pat. No. 6,082,785 issued July 2000, U.S. Pat. No. 5,314,217 issued May 1994, U.S. Pat. No. 5,039,142 issued August 1991, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,611,578 issued March 1997. All of these patents are hand gripping devices that have a slot at the end. These devices do not easily facilitate tying a balloon. All of the above devices are different from the present invention. The present invention overcomes the above mentioned patents' shortcomings by providing for a balloon knot tying device with two rods that have a continuous retaining edge, reversibility, tapered ends, frictional side surface, and a relief area. The invention is also attached to a handle that is gripped or a ring shaped device, which allows a steady hold when tying a balloon. The present invention also aids in tying a balloon at the normal position it would be tied on the fingers. The rods are now taking the stress load that the fingers normally would take during the balloon tying operation. The base can be used with a ring shaped device that the fingers slip through or can be mounted to a grip handle that is held in the hand for people who cannot slide the device comfortable over their fingers to tie a balloon.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is made of injection-molded plastic or similar materials with all rounded edges to prevent damage to the balloon. The device has two identical rods. Each rod has a top part and a bottom part. The bottom part is larger around than the top part. The top smaller part is tapered as it moves toward the top. The top part of the rods are what the balloon is wrapped around allowing the balloon to rest on the retaining edge formed by the larger part of the rods. The retaining edge keeps the balloon off the base so the balloon can be routed underneath making room for the fingers to tuck the end through the loop to make the knot. The balloon end is then pulled up and off the rods to finish tying the permanent knot. A relief area is also located on the base to allow room for the finger to tuck the end of the balloon into the loop to tie the knot. The process to tie a balloon using the present invention is: 1. Hold the end of the balloon against the side of the device with the thumb to keep the air from going out. 2. Wrap the balloon end around both top parts of the rods. 3. Push the end of the balloon underneath up into the loop hole. 4. Pull the end of the balloon up and off the rods to close and tighten the knot.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring toFIGS. 1-4, an embodiment of the invention is shown containing two parallel rods3, attached to base1and perpendicular to surface11of base1. Rods3being comprised of a first portion4proximal to surface11of base1and second portion5distal to surface11of base1with tapered end6. Between first portion4and second portion5a retaining edge9is provided to prevent the balloon from sliding down onto surface11and therefore provides an opening to allow room for the finger to insert the balloon end through the balloon loop during the knot tying operation. Base1having a ring shaped device2which provides an aperture10to be used for inserting finger(s) to facilitate holding the device for the balloon knot tying operation. Relief area7is provided to further assist balloon knot tying by allowing more room for the finger to sweep through. Textured area8is also provided for a friction surface to prevent the balloon from slipping during the knot tying operation. The preferred embodiment of this invention is made of but not limited to injection-molded plastic or similar materials.

FIGS. 5-12show the preferred sequential steps for the balloon knot tying operation. Insert fingers12and13of hand22through aperture10of the preferred embodiment of the aforementioned invention14as shown in FIG.5. After inflating balloon15, hold leading end16of balloon15between thumb17and textured area8as shown in FIG.6. Referring next toFIG. 7, pinch balloon opening18of leading end16between finger19and thumb20of hand21. Stretch leading end16perpendicular to rods3against second portion5and retaining edge9.FIG. 8shows stretching leading end16around rods3in a clockwise direction against retaining edge9. Continuing in a clockwise direction, stretch leading end16around rods3and against retaining edge9back around to the center position as shown in FIG.9. This forms loop23.FIG. 10shows pressing the balloon opening18by relief area7with finger19under and through loop23. With finger19and thumb20of hand21, pinch balloon opening18and pull leading edge16through loop23as shown in FIG.11. Finally, as shown inFIG. 12continue to pull balloon opening18upward along tapered ends6and off of rods3completing knot24.

FIGS. 13-16show an alternate configuration of the above embodiment of the invention. This configuration has base1with a handle25instead of a ring shape device. Relief area7continues throughout a major portion of handle25to also provide for material reduction. Textured area8is also provided for a friction surface to prevent the balloon from slipping.

The preferred embodiment of the aforementioned invention has been described in detail. It would be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications could be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.