Balloon for decoration

Abstract: Balloon units, each comprising plural pre-connected balloon elements, are used to make a decorative balloon assembly having a beautiful and well-balanced appearance. A balloon unit (1) comprises globe-shaped balloon elements (2) linked annularly, and air passageways (3) each being provided at the connection between adjoining balloon elements (2), thereby internally connecting the balloon elements (2). A decorative balloon assembly is formed of plural balloon units (1) with a rod (21) or a rope (31) passing through the center of respective balloon unit (1). Any one of the balloon elements (2) constituting the balloon unit (1) is mounted with an air inlet valve (6) having a check valve structure, said valve (6) projecting toward the center hole (7) in the center sheet (4).

Description: The present invention refers to a decoration assembly formed by a plurality of balloon units, as set forth in the preamble of claim 1. A decoration assembly of this kind is known from US-A-2,542,361. The aforementioned document discloses a decoration assembly comprising a plurality of globe-shaped balloons with internal electrical illumination which are hanging in equal spaces at a common rope extending between two opposite walls. Other techniques have been developed for establishing balloon decorations of various types by attaching many globe-shaped balloons onto a rod or rope. For example, a well known balloon decoration is made up of balloon units, each consisting of four balloon elements connected annularly on the same plane. These balloon units are joined at the center on a rod or rope so as to form a vertical or arch-shaped decoration. In this conventional technique, four balloons are bound together with the air seals facing inward. Establishing this balloon decoration is a troublesome operation, which requires dexterity to fasten the balloons together to achieve a good balance. Thus, it is difficult to produce balloon decoration assemblies simply and speedily using the conventional technique. It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a decoration assembly formed by a plurality of balloon units which may be produced and assembled in a simple manner and has a beautiful and well balanced appearance. This object is achieved by the features of claim 1. Preferred embodiments of the invention are subject matter of the dependent claims. The invention makes use of balloon units which each comprise a plurality of balloon elements coupled in an integral annular arrangement by a central sheet and connected to one another by a plurality of air passageways. A basic structure of similar kind is disclosed in US-A-3,416,169 describing an inflated bath or boudoir pillow to support the head of a user. This pillow comprises a plurality of air chambers connected to one another in a manner to form valley areas for receiving the shoulders of the user. The air chambers have different size to comply with the special object of the pillow, and a plurality of suction cups are provided at one face of the pillow to affix same to a tub. The pillow is not suitable for being used like the balloon units of the invention, as it comprises an inflated portion in its center. The present invention is further explained with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which two examples of the invention are shown. It should be noted that these examples are not to be understood as limiting the invention. Figure 1 is a perspective view of a balloon unit. Figure 2 is a top view of the balloon unit of Figure 1. Figure 3 is an enlarged view of a center sheet of the balloon unit. Figure 4A and 4B are sectional views taken along lines A-A and B-B of Figure 2, respectively. Figure 5A is a top view of a film forming the balloon unit, and Figure 5B is a top view of a mold for the film. Figure 6 is a side view of a first balloon decoration assembly. Figure 7 is a partially sectional view of the assembly shown in Figure 6. Figure 8 is a side view of a second balloon decoration assembly. Figure 9A is a sectional view showing a portion of the assembly shown in Figure 8, and Figure 9B is a perspective view of a seal with a central opening. As shown in Figure 3, air is supplied into the balloon unit 1 through an air inlet valve 6. The air entering the inlet valve 6 starts to inflate a balloon element 2A mounted with the air valve 6, and then it inflates adjacent balloon elements 2B, and finally a balloon element 2C. The air preferably is supplied through the air inlet valve 6 by air filling equipment not shown. The air inlet valve 6 has a check valve structure, and therefore the air stays within the balloon even when the filling equipment is removed. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the balloon unit 1 is formed such that the balloon elements, each of substantially the same diameter, are linked in an annular arrangement when all the balloon elements are inflated, creating an integral construction. The first balloon decoration assembly 20 shown in Figures 6 and 7 comprises balloon units 1 joined together at the center by a rod 21, which is fitted in the central hole 7 in the center sheet 4 of each of the balloon units 1. The second balloon decoration assembly 30 shown in Figures 8 and 9 comprises balloon units 1 joined together at the center by a rope 31, which passes through a central opening 33 formed in a seal 32 attached to the center sheet 4 of each of the balloon units 1. According to the present invention, the balloon decoration assembly has a pleasant appearance, the balloon elements 2 being lined up in an orderly manner when plural balloon units 1 are assembled together. Further, because the respective balloon elements 2 are internally connected by the air passageways 3, the air inlet valve 6 may be provided at only one of the balloon elements 2. Consequently, the invention facilitates the inflation of the balloons while simplifying and expediting interconnection of the balloon units. With reference to Figure 1, 2, 3, and 4, a balloon unit 1 includes four globe-shaped balloon elements 2 which are annularly linked by air passageways 3 through which the adjoining balloons are internally connected. The above-mentioned four balloon elements 2 are provided with a center sheet 4 in a space defined by connections where the air passageways 3 are provided. The center sheet 4 thus interconnects the balloon elements 2. Side sheets 5 are also provided, connected to the outer edges of the balloon elements. Therefore, the four balloon elements 2 are firmly fastened together by the center sheet 4 and side sheets 5. An air inlet valve 6 for supplying air into the balloon elements 2 of the balloon unit 1 is attached to one of the balloon elements. The air inlet valve 6 has a check valve structure, and as shown in Figure 3, an uppermost end portion of the valve 6 is inserted within the balloon element 2A while an air inlet end portion projects outward from the balloon element 2A. In this embodiment, the air inlet of the valve 6 projects toward the inner portion of the annular arrangement, and particularly toward the center hole 7 formed in the center of the center sheet 4. When air is supplied into the air inlet valve 6, the air starts to inflate the balloon element 2A having the valve inserted therein, and then flows through the air passageways 3 into the adjacent balloon elements. The air inlet valve 6 may be attached at any part of the balloon element 2, but as described hereinafter in detail, it is preferably provided so as to project toward the center hole 7 in the center sheet 4. Such placement of the air inlet valve 6 preserves the overall aesthetic appearance of the balloon decoration assembly by providing concealment for the air inlet valves 6 when the balloon decoration assembly is assembled. As shown in Figure 5A, the balloon unit 1 of this embodiment includes two synthetic resin films 10A and 10B. The two films 10 are attached along a connection line 12 which is formed at an outer circumferential edge of four circular portions 11. The films 10 are also attached along a connection line 16 formed at an inner circumferential edge of the four circular portions 11. The centers of the films surrounded by the circular portions 11 are also attached along the center connection line 14. After the films are joined along the lines 12, 14, and 16, the balloon unit 1 is separated from the excess film by a mold 15, shown in Figure 5B, having an outline corresponding to the circular portions 11 and center line 14. Aluminum may be applied to the surface of the films 10 by vacuum evaporation to improve resistance to air leakage and/or apply print or color. When the balloon unit 1 is separated from the excess film, the circular portions 11 become balloon elements 2, the gaps 13 in the connection line 12 become air passageways 3, and the inside of the center connection line 14 becomes the center hole 7 of the balloon unit 1. A first embodiment of the balloon decoration assembly using the above-mentioned balloon unit 1 is now described. Referring to Figures 6 and 7, the first balloon decoration assembly includes a number of balloon units 1 fitted onto a rod 21. As shown in Figure 7, the rod 21 passes through the center hole 7 of each balloon unit 1. As the balloon units 1 are mounted on the rod 21, each successive balloon unit 1 is turned 90 degrees. Though the air inlet valve 6 projects toward the center hole 7 of the center sheet 4 of each balloon unit 1, not filled with air at the portion, the valves will not be damaged by the rod 21 passing through the hole. By applying a different color on one or two balloon elements of the balloon unit 1, and shifting the angle when placing the balloon units on the rod, the balloon decoration assembly 20 looks as if the balloons are connected spirally, thereby improving the decorative effect. When assembled, the rod 21 is fixed to a stand 22 to add stability. A second embodiment of the balloon decoration assembly 30 shown in Figures 8 and 9 includes the balloon units 1 joined together by a rope 31. As shown in Figure 9B, to the center hole 7 of the balloon unit 1 is attached a seal 32 having a central opening 33 for the rope 31 to pass through. Figure 9A shows the rope 31 inserted through the opening 33 of the seal 32. As in the first embodiment of the balloon decoration assembly 20 described previously, the second embodiment of the assembly 30 may have some balloon elements painted with a different color so as to enhance the decorative effect. Because the second balloon decoration assembly 30 uses a rope to attach the balloon units 1 in a flexible arrangement, it may be hung from a ceiling to arrange the balloons in an arch shape. It is also contemplated that other means of connecting the balloon units 1 and displaying the balloon decoration assembly are possible.

Claims: A decoration assembly formed by a plurality of balloon units (1) at a common connector (21; 31), characterized in that said balloon units (1) are arranged one adjacent to the other on said common connector (21; 31) which passes through a central hole (7) formed in each balloon unit (1), and that each said balloon unit (1) comprises a plurality of balloon elements (2) coupled in an integral annular arrangement and connected to one another by air passageways (3), each said balloon unit (1) further comprising: a center sheet (4) located in an inner portion of the annular arrangement and having a shape defined by inner edges (16) of the balloon elements (2) and by inner edges (16) of the passageways (3) and being provided with said central hole (7). The decoration assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein the balloon elements (2), the air passageways (3) and the center sheet (4) are formed from sheets of synthetic resin film (10). The decoration assembly as set forth in claim 1 or 2, wherein a seal (32) comprising a central opening (33) is located in the central hole (7). The decoration assembly as set forth in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said balloon units (1) each comprise a plurality of side sheets (5) coupled to outer edges of the balloon elements (2) and to outer edges of the air passageways (3). The decoration assembly as set forth in any one of the preceding claims wherein said balloon units (1) each comprise an air inlet (6) coupled to one of the plurality of its balloon elements (2). The decoration assembly as set forth in any one of the preceding claims wherein the air inlet (6) has a check valve. The decoration assembly as set forth in any one of the preceding claims wherein an inlet end of the air inlet (6) is directed toward the inner portion of the annular arrangement. The decoration assembly as set forth in any one of the preceding claims wherein the connector is a rod (21). The decoration assembly as set forth in any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the connector is a rope (31).

Inventors: MORITA TAKEMI, NAKAMURA AKIRA, MORITA, TAKEMI, NAKAMURA, AKIRA
Applicants: TAKARA KOSAN CO LTD, TAKARA KOSAN CO., LTD.
Application year: 1996
Main classification: A63H27
IPC codes: A63H37, G09F7, A63H27