A balloon-tying device for assisting in tying a balloon is provided, the balloon having a filling end. The balloon-tying device comprises a base having a top surface and a bottom surface substantially opposite the top surface. A pair of spaced tying prongs is provided with each having a base end and a top end and the base ends of the tying prongs secured to the top surface of the base. A ridge extends from the top end of each of the tying prongs wherein the filling end of the balloon is wrappable around the tying prongs and fed between the tying prongs and wherein the ridges maintain the filling end of the balloon from inadvertently slipping from the tying prongs during the tying process.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to a balloon-tying device and, more particularly, the invention relates to a balloon-tying device for facilitating the tying of air-, water-, and helium-filled balloons.

2. Description of the Prior Art

There is a prevalence of air-, helium-, and water-filled balloons in our society. In fact, balloons are used for everything from birthday parties to weddings to yard sales to water-balloon fights, and every one of those balloons must be laboriously tied by hand, which can be a frustrating and time-consuming process. Clearly, there is a need for an invention that makes the process quicker and easier.

SUMMARY

The present invention is a balloon-tying device for assisting in tying a balloon. The balloon has a filling end. The balloon-tying device comprises a base having a top surface and a bottom surface substantially opposite the top surface. A pair of spaced tying prongs is provided with each having a base end and a top end and the base ends of the tying prongs secured to the top surface of the base. A ridge extends from the top end of each of the tying prongs wherein the filling end of the balloon is wrappable around the tying prongs and fed between the tying prongs and wherein the ridges maintain the filling end of the balloon from inadvertently slipping from the tying prongs during the tying process.

The present invention further includes a method for assisting in tying a balloon. The balloon has a filling end. The method comprises providing a base having a top surface and a bottom surface substantially opposite the top surface, securing a pair of spaced tying prongs to the top surface of the base, extending a ridge from an unsecured end of each of the tying prongs, wrapping the filling end of the balloon around the tying prongs, feeding the filling end between the tying prongs, and maintaining the filling end of the balloon from inadvertently slipping from the tying prongs during the tying process.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As illustrated inFIGS. 1-9, the present invention is a balloon-tying device, indicated generally at10, for facilitating the tying of air-, water-, and helium-filled balloons13. The balloon-tying device10of the present invention is a children's toy, a worker's tool, or a party favor to make balloon tying quicker and easier. The balloon-tying device10inhibits the problems of sore fingers and of children needing assistance in tying their balloons13.

Preferably, the balloon-tying device10of the present invention is constructed of a sturdy and durable injection-molded thermoplastic material although constructing the balloon-tying device10from other material is within the scope of the present invention. The present invention can be produced in several alternative versions. In at least one embodiment, a pliable strap releasably secures the balloon-tying device10to a user's hand, as will be described in further detail below.

As best illustrated inFIGS. 1-4, in a first embodiment of the balloon-tying device10of the present invention, the balloon-tying device10includes base12having a top side surface14, a bottom side surface16substantially opposite the top side surface14, a first edge18, a second edge20substantially opposite and parallel to the first edge18, a third edge22between and substantially perpendicular to the first edge18and the second edge20, and a fourth edge24substantially opposite and parallel to the third edge22and between and substantially perpendicular to the first edge18and the second edge20. The base12is substantially rectangular with the first edge18and the second edge20having a length less than the third edge22and the fourth edge24. The third edge22and the fourth edge24preferably have a length sufficient to cover the index finger and the middle finger of the user, as illustrated. It should be noted that while the base12has been described and illustrated as being rectangular, it is within the scope of the present invention for the base12to have other geometric shapes including, but not limited to, square, round, oval, etc.

In addition, the base of the balloon-tying device10includes a first slot26substantially parallel to and adjacent the first end18and a second slot28substantially parallel to and adjacent the second edge20. A first strap portion30having a first end32and a second end34and a second strap portion36having a first end38and a second end40are also provided. The first end32of the first strap portion30is secured through the first slot26and the first end38of the second strap portion36is secured through the second slot28. The second ends34,40of the first strap portion30and the second strap portion36, respectively, have different portions of a hook and loop fastener allowing a user to releasably secure the balloon-tying device10to his or her fingers, as illustrated and described further below.

The balloon-tying device10of the present invention further includes a pair of spaced tying prongs42each having a base end and a top end. The base ends of the tying prongs42are secured to the top surface14of the base12and extend in a generally upward direction. The top ends of the tying prongs42have a ridge44extending radially in a direction substantially parallel to the top surface14of the base12. The ridges44assist in maintaining the balloon13on the balloon-tying device10, as will be described in further detail below.

Each of the tying prongs42of the balloon-tying device10of the present invention further has a first side surface facing the first edge of the base, a second side surface substantially opposite the first side surface, a first end surface between the first side surface and the second side surface, and a second end surface substantially opposite the first end surface and between the first side surface and the second side surface. The lengths of the first side surface and the second side surface are preferably greater than the lengths of the first end surface and the second end surface. Furthermore, the first side surfaces and the second side surfaces are aligned substantially parallel to the first edge18and the second edge20of the base12and the first end surface and the second end surface are preferably angled inward allowing easy removal of the balloon13from the balloon-tying device10.

In practice, the balloon-tying device10of the present invention is wrapped around the index and middle fingers of the user. After filling the balloon13with the desired medium, the filling end of the balloon13is wrapped around the tying prongs42, as illustrated, with the ridges44maintaining the filling end of the balloon13on the tying prongs42. Once the filling end of the balloon13has been tied, the user simply pulls the filling end in a general direction away from the base12and the filling end of the balloon13is gently urged over the ridges44and off the balloon-tying device10. The balloon13is now tied and can be used in a desired manner.

In another embodiment of the balloon-tying device10of the present invention, as best illustrated inFIGS. 5-8, the balloon-tying device10has an annular base member12′ having a bottom or outer surface16′ and a top or inner surface14′. In an embodiment, the bottom surface16′ preferably has a plurality of indentations17and resembles a tire while the top surface14′ is substantially smooth. A pair of tying prongs42′ extend from the top surface14′ in a general direction toward each other, substantially opposite each other. A ridge or hook44′ is formed on each end of the tying prongs42′ for maintaining the balloon13to the balloon-tying device10during tying operations.

Further referring toFIGS. 5-8, the balloon-tying device10of the present invention has a small spring-clamp19. In practice, first, the balloon13is filled with air, water, or helium, and the spout (or filling end) of the balloon13is pinched shut by the fingers and fed through the hole in the underside of the balloon-tying device10. The filled balloon13is now positioned at the edge of the balloon-tying device10, and the filling end is stretched. The spring-loaded lever or button is pressed, extending the rod over the hole and pinching the balloon stem closed. The clamp19seals the balloon's filling end, prevents leakage, and holds the balloon stem in place. Now, by pulling the end of the balloon13, the user employs the two tying prongs42′, fastened to the base12′ at one end and open at the other and uses the tying prongs42′ to facilitate the tying of the balloon13, a quick and easy operation. The two tying prongs42′, in fact, function as additional “fingers” to make the knot-tying process quicker and more secure. Once the end of the balloon13is tied, the lever is released, and the balloon13can be slipped back out beneath the spring-clamp retainer19and is now ready for use. As the basic functional design of the balloon-tying device10of this embodiment works regardless of the basal or nozzle-adapting configuration, it can be seen that the balloon-tying device10can be produced in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and patterns, i.e., not only in the shape and representation of an automobile tire, but of a clown, an animal, a round balloon: almost anything playful, festive, and fanciful.

In still another embodiment of the balloon-tying device10of the present invention, as best illustrated inFIG. 7, the balloon-tying device10is built into the rear sight of a water gun or mounted at the nozzle of a helium tank via a threaded or clamping apparatus. In each case, the balloon-tying device10presents, a simple and easily used apparatus for securing the filled balloons and tying them.

The balloon-tying device10of the present invention presents a number of distinct and significant benefits and advantages. Foremost, the balloon-tying device10saves consumers, young and old, a tremendous amount of time and effort in the tying of balloons13. For those users who need balloons13for a party, reception, or other festive occasion, the balloon-tying device10is a real time- and finger-saver, making short work of what would otherwise become an onerous, tedious chore. And, for those who provide uninflated balloons13for children's entertainment at parties and then wind up tying all the balloons for the kids, the balloon-tying device10not only relieves them of this task, but also gives the kids something fun to do. And for those whose vocation requires tying multiple balloons13, i.e., caterers, event planners, and others, the balloon-tying device10actually reduces time and labor costs and makes the whole party-giving process run smoother and easier. Easy to use, compact, lightweight, portable, and durable, the balloon-tying device10can be employed variously as a child's toy, a party favor, or a worker's tool and will thus extend its notable benefits to children, adult consumers, and those in the party-giving business.

A device to facilitate the tying of air-, water-, or helium-filled balloons13, the balloon-tying device10of the present invention enables the users or party-giver to quickly and easily tie any number of balloons13and to do so much more efficiently than is possible with conventional hand-tying methods.

The foregoing exemplary descriptions and the illustrative preferred embodiments of the present invention have been explained in the drawings and described in detail, with varying modifications and alternative embodiments being taught. While the invention has been so shown, described and illustrated, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that equivalent changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention, and that the scope of the present invention is to be limited only to the claims except as precluded by the prior art. Moreover, the invention as disclosed herein may be suitably practiced in the absence of the specific elements which are disclosed herein.