Abstract:
An apparatus for illuminating the interior of a balloon, and a support for the apparatus and the balloon. The illuminating apparatus includes a plug with an integrally-formed radially extending flange insertable within the balloon neck. A hollow filler tube depends from the flange. A light element is affixed to the plug and disposed within the neck. A battery is electrically connected to the light element. Switching is provided to turn the lighting element on and off. A rigid support is operably connected to the inflator and is insertable into the ground to provide an upstanding orientation of the balloon when filled with a lighter-than-air gas or with air.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION DATA 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/032,876, filed Feb. 18, 2008, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/904,486, filed Nov. 12, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,344,267. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to illuminated toy balloons. More particularly, the present invention relates to self-supporting illuminated balloons. The use of lights in association with balloons is well known. Examples include U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,390,651 and 5,215,492. Also well known is the use of chemiluminescent materials or light sticks that produce light by chemical reaction which may be inserted into balloons. 
         [0003]    The present invention is an improvement over the prior art in which an inexpensive, self-powered apparatus is inserted into the neck of a balloon, which contains a small, energy-efficient light source powered by a battery, and which has the ability to switch on and off. 
         [0004]    While such illuminated balloons are known, there is no present way in which such balloons are self-supporting. 
         [0005]    Accordingly, there is a need for an illuminated balloon in which the illuminating apparatus is inserted in the balloon, the balloon then filled with a gas such as helium or air, switched on or off as desired, and which is self-supporting. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    A combination includes an illuminated inflator for inserting into the neck of a toy balloon and a support for the inflator and balloon. The inflator includes a gastight plug having a center and upper and lower ends. A hollow filler tube has upper and lower ends and extends through the center of the plug, with the lower end of the hollow filler tube extending below the lower end of the plug. 
         [0007]    A stop valve is in flow communication with the hollow filler tube and is disposed in the plug. A light assembly includes a battery and at least one light element electrically connected to the battery affixed in proximity to the stop valve. The inflator is inserted into the toy balloon with the plug in the neck of the balloon and the bottom of the hollow filler tube extending below the neck of the balloon for filling the balloon with a gas through the hollow filler tube. The stop valve prevents gas from escaping the balloon and the balloon can float freely in the air without support. 
         [0008]    A rigid support is operably connected to the inflator at one end and is insertable into the ground at the other end. The support provides an upstanding orientation of the balloon when filled with a lighter-than-air gas or with air. The ground insertion portion of the support can include a pointed, stake-like end on the support. Alternately, a flange can be mounted to a lower end of the rigid support and two pointed, stake-like elements can de[end from the flange to secure the balloon and support in the ground. 
         [0009]    The support can be configured so that the stake is inserted into the lower end of the hollow filler tube to provide the rigid connection between the inflator and the support. Alternately, stake has an upper sleeve-like portion and the lower end of the hollow filler tube is inserted into the sleeve-like portion. Preferably, a friction fit is provided between the lower end of the hollow filler tube and the stake. Gripping surfaces can also be provided. 
         [0010]    These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, in conjunction with the appended claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    The benefits and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the relevant art after reviewing the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  depicts a perspective view of a balloon containing the apparatus for illuminating the balloon interior. 
           [0013]      FIG. 1A  depicts a detail perspective view derived from  FIG. 1 , showing the apparatus in greater detail. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2A  depicts a light element assembly containing a battery. 
           [0015]      FIG. 2B  depicts a perspective view of an embodiment of the apparatus using magnetic means to affix the light element to the plug. 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  depicts a perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 2   b,  in which the light element assembly is magnetically affixed to the magnet. 
           [0017]      FIG. 4A  depicts an embodiment of the present invention in which the light element is affixed by means of barbs. 
           [0018]      FIG. 4B  depicts an embodiment of the present invention in which the light element is affixed by means of restraint fingers. 
           [0019]      FIG. 4C  depicts an embodiment in which the pressure of gas in the balloon switches on and off the lighting element, in the “off” position. 
           [0020]      FIG. 4D  depicts an embodiment in which the pressure of gas in the balloon switches on and off the lighting element, in the “on” position. 
           [0021]      FIG. 5A  depicts a prior-art balloon inflation device in cross section elevation view. 
           [0022]      FIG. 5B  depicts a prior-art balloon inflation device in top plan view. 
           [0023]      FIG. 6A  depicts a final embodiment of a lighted balloon inflation device in cross section elevation view. 
           [0024]      FIG. 6B  depicts a final embodiment of a lighted balloon inflation device in top plan view. 
           [0025]      FIG. 7  illustrates an embodiment of the lighted balloon with a ground support. 
           [0026]      FIG. 7   a  illustrates an alternate embodiment of the spike portion of the ground support. 
           [0027]      FIG. 8  illustrates alternate embodiment of the ground support. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0028]    While the present invention is susceptible of embodiment in various forms, there is shown in the drawings and will hereinafter be described a presently preferred embodiment with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiment illustrated. 
         [0029]    It should be further understood that the title of this section of this specification, namely, “Detailed Description Of The Invention”, relates to a requirement of the United States Patent Office, and does not imply, nor should be inferred to limit the subject matter disclosed herein. 
         [0030]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , the present device  16  is inserted into the neck of a balloon, with a cord  3  attached to the device restraining the balloon. The balloon is obviously filled with a gas, which may be air, helium, or similarly inert gasses, in the case of balloons used as toys, on account of safety concerns. In other applications, where sufficient safeguards are taken, the gas need not be inert. 
         [0031]    Referring now to  FIG. 1A , the details of this device are revealed. The device, in the form of a plug, contains a cylindrical body  3  which has an integrally formed radially extending flange  7  which retains the device within the balloon. When the device is inserted into the neck  14  of the balloon, the flange  7  causes the neck to provide a gas-tight seal just above the neck ring  15  at the lower end of the neck, which provides stability for the balloon with the device inserted. 
         [0032]    Still referring to  FIG. 1A , a light-emitting assembly is shown disposed above the flange  7 . The assembly is made up of the light emitting surface  13 , which is rigidly affixed to a screw-on cap  12 , which attaches to the lower assembly housing  11 . A battery which powers the light-emitting assembly is contained within the lower housing and screw-on cap. The user may turn the light on and off by screwing the cap down, and conversely screwing the cap in the opposite direction, relieving pressure and disconnecting power to the light element. 
         [0033]    In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1A  the light-emitting assembly is restrained in place by guides  8 . Also contained in this embodiment is a magnet, not shown in this view, which is disposed below the base of the light-emitting assembly. 
         [0034]    The use of the magnet in this embodiment may be further understood by referring next to  FIGS. 2A ,  2 B, and  3 .  FIGS. 2A and 2B  depict the light-emitting assembly separated from the rest of the device. The battery  12 , is clearly displayed in this figure, disposed entirely within the guides  8 , and concentrically disposed directly upon the flange  7 .  FIG. 3  shows the two elements combined to form the device prior to insertion into the balloon. Still referring to these figures, the light-emitting assembly is mounted on the flange between the guides  8 , and restrained in place by the magnet  10 , which attracts the steel body of the light-emitting assembly  9 . The body  4  of the device is in the form of a tube, or cylinder, which is hollow, containing a cylindrical chamber  5  and ending in a tab  6 , which provides a hole to which a cord may be attached. 
         [0035]    In order to use the device, the balloon may first be filled, typically with helium, so that the balloon floats in the air. In one embodiment the balloon is first filled with helium by means well known in the prior art, and which are not a part of this invention. The user pinches off the neck to retain the helium within the balloon, and then quickly inserts the device into the neck of the balloon. Once the insertion has been accomplished, the flange  7  provides a seal so that the helium will not escape from the balloon, except at a very, very slow rate. 
         [0036]    In another variation of this invention, the device may contain a one-way valve, or check valve, permitting the helium to be inserted through the cylindrical chamber  5 , but not allowing the helium to escape back through the chamber. In this embodiment the valve is located in the body of the device. Ports (not shown) are provided between the valve and the head of the device to allow the helium to enter the balloon, but not escape. 
         [0037]    In this embodiment the device is first inserted into the balloon neck, as shown in  FIG. 1 , before filling. The helium gas is then pumped in through the cylindrical channel  5  of the body  4 , which allows the balloon to fill, until the gas is shut off, relieving the pressure in the channel, and causing the check valve to shut off, retaining the pressure within the balloon indefinitely. 
         [0038]    The prior art describes and claims a device such a one-way valve in Zeyra, U.S. Pat. No. 4,167,204. Referring now to  FIGS. 5A and 5B  a basic valve in accordance with said patent is shown. The head  109  of this prior art device contains the radial flange  109 F used for the same purpose as in the present patent. The check-valve effect is accomplished by means of the circular resilient disc  109 A. The gas is introduced by means of the filler element  110  which is inserted into the head  109 , creating pressure which forces the circular resilient disk  109 A outward against the guides  109 F. 
         [0039]    In the present invention a check valve mechanism may be inserted into the body of the apparatus in order to effect the same end. Because such check valves are well known in the art, and because they are not part of the present invention, they will not be further described here. 
         [0040]    A variation of the prior art filler of  FIGS. 5A and 5B  is shown in FIGS.  6 A and  6 B. A seen therein, a magnet  122  is mounted atop the lower cage fingers  109 H, and is restrained in place by upper cage fingers  120 . In this embodiment the magnet does not affect the operation of the check valve in the head, but provides a means for securely retaining the light-emitting assembly. 
         [0041]    When using the filler-type device which also illuminates the inside of the balloon, the device is first inserted into the balloon, and then filled with the helium after insertion. Such a variation has the advantage of minimizing the amount of helium lost when the balloon is first filled and then the device is inserted afterwards. 
         [0042]    In all of these embodiments the lighting element itself may be of various types. The preferring lighting element is a light-emitting diode (hereinafter “LED”) because of the availability of many different types of LEDs, available at very low prices, and further because of the extremely high efficiency and low power drain on the battery caused by the LED. Among the variations commercially available are LEDs which blink, which change color, and combinations of these two effects. 
         [0043]    In addition to the magnetic mounting embodiment, many different approaches to mounting of the LED are proposed herein as further embodiments. Referring first to  FIG. 4A , the assembly holding the light-emitting element  13  is restrained by barbed fingers  25 . The embodiment shown in this figure contains a self-contained light-emitting element having its own battery. It is clear that embodiments in which the battery and LED are separate units may also be used. 
         [0044]    In  FIG. 4B , a retaining ring  20  is force-fit over a mating enclosure  21  which contains the light-emitting element and battery. In a variation of the embodiment of  FIG. 4B  a screw-on retaining ring mates with mating threads on the enclosure  21 . 
         [0045]    Alternative versions are proposed herein for the switching of the light element on and off. In the preferred embodiment depicted in  FIG. 1A  the user must rotate the upper housing  12  relative to the lower housing  11 , as previously stated. 
         [0046]    In another alternative embodiment, the filling of the balloon with helium is used to switch the light element on. Referring first to  FIG. 4C , this embodiment contains a battery  22  which is in permanent electrical contact with positive terminal of the LED assembly  13 . Ground connection is made by metallic element  23 , which is configured to keep the helium from passing into the balloon. Helium enters the balloon only through the port  24 . In  FIG. 4C  helium has not yet been inserted into the balloon: element  23  blocks the helium from entering the balloon except through port  24 . As the helium is first introduced contact element  23  blocks port  24 . At this stage the helium will force contact element  23  upwards until contact is made with the negative electrode of the battery, thereby completing the electrical circuit and causing the LED to illuminate, as shown in  FIG. 4D . The teeth on mating enclosure  21 , contact element arms  26 , and light-element arms  27  form a ratchet mechanism, so that the contact element will stay in the position of  FIG. 4D  once the balloon is filled with helium, which is facilitated as the contact element rises to clear port  24 , allowing the gas into the balloon through this route. 
         [0047]    Still other alternate embodiments of an illuminated balloon are illustrated in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , in which the illuminated balloon is self-supporting. In these embodiments, the cylindrical body  3  is used to inflate the balloon  1  (gas is introduced into the balloon through the chamber  5  and valve  7 ) and is also used as an attachment location for a supporting stand  30 . In such an embodiment, the tab  6  (shown in  FIGS. 1 and 1A , but not in  FIGS. 7 and 8 ) may be eliminated as unnecessary. 
         [0048]    The stand  30  can be of the type that includes a shaft  32  having a spike-like or pointed end  34  to facilitate insertion into the ground. The connection of the shaft  32  to the illumination device  16  can be made by a variety of configurations. In one configuration, shown in  FIG. 7 , the shaft  32  is inserted into the opening or chamber  5  in the body  4 . Optionally, the shaft  32  can include a stop or interference member  34 , such as a projection or flange that prevents over-insertion of the shaft  32  to prevent inadvertently damaging the internal elements in the device  16 . The outer surface  36  of the shaft  32  can provide a friction fit of the shaft  32  in the chamber  5  to securely hold the device  16  (and the helium filled balloon  1 ) to the shaft  32 . Alternately, the shaft  32  can be formed having a gripping-enhanced surface, such as flexible fins or the like (not shown), to enhance the holding power of the shaft  32  to the device  16 , to, for example, prevent the helium-filled balloon from dislodging from the support  30  and floating away. 
         [0049]    Alternately, as seen in  FIG. 8 , the shaft  132  can include a sleeve  133  into which the body  4  of the device  16  is inserted to secure the device  16  and balloon  1  to the shaft  132 . Here, the inner surface  135  of the sleeve  133  can provide a friction fit of the shaft  132  in the sleeve  133  to securely hold the device  16  and the balloon  1 ; alternately, the sleeve  133  can be formed having a gripping-enhanced surface, such as flexible fins or the like (not shown), to enhance the holding power of the sleeve  133  to the device  16 . 
         [0050]    The ground insertion portion  34  can be, as discussed above, a single spike-like element. Alternately, as seen in  FIG. 7   a,  multiple spikes  234  can depend from a disk, bar or the like  239  formed at the bottom of the shaft  232 , to further enhance securing the stand  30 ,  130  and the balloon  1  (and device  16 ) to the ground. 
         [0051]    As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the connection between the spike  32 ,  132  or support  30 ,  130  and the device  16  is a rigid connection. As such, the balloon  1  will be maintained in an upright orientation regardless of whether the balloon  1  is filled with helium (intended to make the balloon float) or filled with air, in which case the balloon  1  may be used as a supported ornament. 
         [0052]    All patents referred to herein, are hereby incorporated herein by reference, whether or not specifically done so within the text of this disclosure. 
         [0053]    In the present disclosure, the words “a” or “an” are to be taken to include both the singular and the plural. Conversely, any reference to plural items shall, where appropriate, include the singular. 
         [0054]    From the foregoing it will be observed that numerous modifications and variations can be effectuated without departing from the true spirit and scope of the novel concepts of the present invention. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the specific embodiments illustrated is intended or should be inferred.