Abstract:
A confetti popper device is provided. The confetti popper has a quantity of confetti stored within a body. A balloon or similar expandable membrane within the body may be inflated until a pressure within the interior against a cover reaches a certain pressure. Upon reaching this pressure, the cover of the body may release, causing the confetti to be ejected (“popped”) from the body.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to confetti popper devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to a balloon based confetti popper that uses the inflation of a balloon to trigger the release (“popping”) of confetti. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Airborne confetti and streamers are quite popular at various types of celebrations or similar events such as football games, parades, weddings, New Year&#39;s Eve parties, political conventions and like occasions. In the past, persons at such occasions have thrown handfuls of confetti or rolls of streamers which are limited by the volume that can be thrown and dispersed at a single time. Explosive devices, which have a cannon-type barrel and some type of explosive compound such as gun powder, have been used in the past to discharge large quantities of confetti and the like. However, explosive devices are inherently dangerous in that someone can be seriously injured by the explosion, if it goes astray. Furthermore, such devices are either normally very small and can handle relatively little confetti so as to provide some protection to the user against injury from the explosion or alternatively are larger and must be handled by someone who has expertise in the handling of such devices. Therefore, the use of explosive devices that can discharge large amounts of confetti are not available to the public and are quite limited in their use. Any device using gunpowder is highly regulated. 
     Moreover, this discharge of confetti is often coupled with an excitement and surprise element. One way to enhance the surprise is to make it so that it is not exactly known when the confetti will be released. 
     Therefore, what is needed is a device that may safely and effectively release confetti that may also provide an element of surprise to the user and surrounding people. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The subject matter of this application may involve, in some cases, interrelated products, alternative solutions to a particular problem, and/or a plurality of different uses of a single system or article. 
     In one aspect, a confetti popper device configured to eject or release confetti is provided. The device includes a body which defines an interior space. A quantity of confetti is positioned within this interior space, adjacent to an opening of the interior space. A cover seals this opening and is configured to release upon application of a pre-defined pressure within the interior space. A balloon or similar expandable membrane or body is positioned within the interior space. An inflation end of the balloon that is configured to allow inflating air into the balloon is oriented at a second opening of the body. The inflation end of the balloon is connected to an air pump. The air pump is configured to pump air into the balloon, thereby inflating the balloon. Upon sufficient inflation, the balloon, through the confetti, is configured to apply the pre-defined pressure within the interior space to release the cover, causing the confetti to be ejected from the interior space. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  provides a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  provides a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 3  provides a perspective view of still another embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of presently preferred embodiments of the invention and does not represent the only forms in which the present invention may be constructed and/or utilized. The description sets forth the functions and the sequence of steps for constructing and operating the invention in connection with the illustrated embodiments. 
     Generally, the present invention involves a confetti popper device configured to rapidly release (“pop”) confetti based on the expansion and pressure of a balloon or similar membrane within the popper. 
     The confetti popper device may comprise a body defining an interior space, a quantity of confetti stored within the interior space until dispensed, a cover on one end of the body, and an inflatable balloon or membrane connected to an air pump to inflate the balloon or membrane. Upon sufficient interior pressure, the cover may release, rapidly releasing the confetti within the body. 
     The components of the present invention may be made of any materials. Generally, the body may be made of any material capable of storing the confetti and balloon during its inflation. Examples of materials which the body may be made include paper, plastic, metal, wood, composite materials, and the like. Further, the body may be of any shape and size capable of storing the confetti and balloon, and being sealed by the cover. 
     The confetti popper contemplated herein may be provided in any number of different variations. For example, the confetti popper may be provided to a consumer as a kit for assembly. The confetti popper may also be provided in a disposable embodiment, or, it may be reusable. Alternatively, some parts of the confetti popper may be reusable, such as the balloon, air pump, and/or body, while other parts of the confetti popper may be disposable such as the confetti, and cover. 
     In another embodiment, a plurality of different balloons of various shapes, sizes and thicknesses may be used, being swappable on and off of the air pump and/or into the body. In this embodiment, it will be even more unknown to a user when the confetti popper will release because the balloons will be less familiar. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 1 , a perspective cut-away view of one embodiment of the present invention is provided. The confetti popper has a body  12  providing structure and support for the components of the confetti popper. The body  12  is generally tubular and cylindrical, however it should be understood that the body may be of any shape capable of storing confetti, and a balloon or similar membrane. For example, the body  12  may be rectangular, triangular, oblong, or the like. Further, its shape need not be uniform along its length or width. The body  12  defines an interior space  15 . Within this interior space lies a balloon  11 , as well as a quantity of confetti  13 . The balloon  11  is shown herein as a long, thin balloon—often referred to as a rocket balloon. However, it should be understood that any balloon or similar membrane may be used. Similarly, the confetti  13  may be any sort of decorative material for ejection from the body  12 . Examples of confetti  13  may include, but are not limited to: Confetti paper, confetti strings, lightweight paper strips, sparkles, shaped cut-outs (such as a star or lighting bolt), tissue paper, reflective items, streamers, and the like. 
     One end of the body  12  is sealed by a cover  14 . This cover  14  may be releasable such as by breaking, rupturing, or an adhesive or connection otherwise giving way. The cover  14  is configured to release upon application of a sufficient, predetermined pressure from within the body  12 . In some embodiments, the cover may be re-sealable. However, in many embodiments, the cover  14  is broken once released and not re-sealable. 
     An air pump  10  is attached to balloon  11  at its inflation end. The pump  10  may be permanently or removably attached to the balloon  11 . The air pump  10  is configured to pump air into the balloon  11 , causing it to increase in size. The air pump  10  may be a manual pump such as a hand or foot pump, or may be a mechanized pump such as an electric or other powered pump. The balloon  11  thus grows within the body  12  interior  15 , increasing the pressure upon the confetti  13  as it does so. Once this pressure becomes high enough to release the cover  14 , the confetti  13  is rapidly released from the body  12  cover end opening. 
       FIG. 2  shows another embodiment of the confetti popper in use releasing confetti. In this embodiment, the balloon  11  is enlarged, having been filled with air from the air pump  10 . The balloon  11  has thus at least partially filled the body  12  interior  15 , causing pressure to be applied on the confetti  13  within the interior  15 . Upon a sufficient amount of pressure being applied to the confetti  13 , and in turn the cover  14 , the cover  14  will release, ejecting the confetti  13  as shown in this figure. 
       FIG. 3  provides another embodiment of the confetti popper. In this embodiment, the balloon  11  and air pump  10  assembly are removed from an end of the body  12 . The body  12  has an open end into which the balloon  11  may be inserted, allowing the balloon  11  to be removably positioned within the body interior  15 . Confetti  13  is stored within the interior  15  of the body  12 . The confetti  13  is held in place within the body  12  between the cover  14 , and a flexible seal  30 . In operation, the seal  30  is acted on by the inflating balloon  11 . The seal exerts pressure on the confetti  13 , which puts pressure on the cover  14 . Upon release/rupture of the cover  14 , the confetti  13  is ejected from the body  12  by the pressure on it from the seal  30 . In most embodiments, the seal  30  may be flexible in order to allow it to apply pressure to the confetti  13  and force it out from the body  12  interior  15 . In this embodiment shown, the balloon  11  is removable from the body  12 . However, it should be understood that in other embodiments, the balloon  11  may be secured within the interior  15 . This securing may be in any way capable of holding the balloon in place such as by adhesive, a seal, pressure connection, mechanical connection, and the like. The air pump  10  in this embodiment is removably attached to the balloon  11 . In other embodiments, the balloon  11  may be permanently attached to the air pump  10 . 
     The confetti popper may be used in any number of ways. In one embodiment, the air pump connected to the balloon may be activated, inflating the balloon. The air pump may pump air into the balloon until the confetti is released from the body. At this point, the air pumping may cease. For example, if the air pump is a hand pump embodiment, a user may pump or otherwise activate the pump until the confetti is released. 
     In another embodiment, the confetti popper may be loaded and then used. For example, the quantity of confetti may be loaded within the body. The first end of the body opening may be sealed with the cover, and the balloon may be inserted into the body on the opposite end from the first end. The balloon may then be connected to the air pump, and the air pump may be activated until the confetti is released. 
     In still another embodiment, the confetti popper may be provided with the confetti and cover pre-loaded and sealed. In this embodiment, a user may insert the balloon, either before or after being connected to the air pump. The user may then activate the pump until the confetti is released. The balloon may then be removed and used in another pre-loaded and sealed confetti popper. 
     While several variations of the present invention have been illustrated by way of example in preferred or particular embodiments, it is apparent that further embodiments could be developed within the spirit and scope of the present invention, or the inventive concept thereof. However, it is to be expressly understood that such modifications and adaptations are within the spirit and scope of the present invention, and are inclusive, but not limited to the following appended claims as set forth.