Abstract:
A device for attaching a decorative element to an automobile, comprising means for attaching the device to the automobile, and a shaft comprising a first shaft portion disposed at the lower part of the shaft, disposed upwardly from the automobile, holding the shaft away from the automobile to avoid damage to the automobile, and a second shaft portion disposed at the upper part of the shaft, extending upwardly from the first portion and being more flexible than the first portion. A means for attaching a decorative element to the shaft is at the uppermost part of the second portion. The second, more flexible upper portion of the shaft is sufficiently flexible to allow a balloon or other decorative element at its upper end to move in a manner resembling free-flying motion of a balloon on a string.

Description:
[0001]     Priority is hereby claimed to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/587,700 filed on Jul. 14, 2004. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention is a device for attaching a decorative element to an automobile. Devices for attaching decorative elements to automobiles have been known for some time. The present invention is intended to solve problems associated with prior devices and means of attaching decorative elements to automobiles.  
         [0003]     In particular, the present device allows attachment of a decorative balloon to an automobile in a manner that resembles the free-flowing form of a latex balloon attached to the automobile by flexible means such as a string or ribbon, while having improved wind resistance and durability; providing secure attachment in a manner that does not damage the automobile; allowing easy attachment, detachment, balloon replacement, and maintenance with minimal time and labor; and improving cost-effectiveness by eliminating the need for helium to keep the balloon aloft. The device is particularly useful in automobile sales lot applications, where balloons are attached to stationary automobiles to attract attention of passersby; in this environment, conventional attachment methods and devices lack durability and are costly and labor-intensive to attach, maintain, and detach.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     The present invention is a device for secure attachment of a decorative air-filled balloon to an automobile with an appearance resembling the free-flowing form of a helium-filled latex balloon attached to the automobile via a string, ribbon, or other similar flexible means, with the benefits described in the preceding paragraph. The device itself is attached by any conventional means to an automobile, but in a preferred embodiment is attached to the automobile by means of a bracket or wedge that is inserted between the outer surface of a side window of the automobile and the portion of the automobile body abutting the lower exposed end of the outer surface of the side window, allowing attachment of the device to an automobile without need to roll the window up or down. The bracket is attached to an upright shaft member, the first, lower portion of which is relatively rigid and disposed upwardly from the automobile so as to hold the upright shaft sufficiently far away from the automobile to minimize damage to the automobile. The first lower portion of the shaft is attached to a second upper portion of the shaft, the second portion extending upwardly therefrom and being more flexible than the first portion. Attached by any conventional means to the uppermost part of the second portion is a means for attaching a balloon. This means for attaching a balloon can be in the form of a balloon cup adapted for secure yet replaceable attachment of a balloon to the end of the second member. It is an object of the invention to have the second, more flexible upper portion of the shaft be sufficiently flexible to allow a balloon attached at its upper end to move in a manner resembling the free-flying motion of a balloon attached via a highly flexible string. When air is moving, the motions of a balloon flying, swaying and dipping in the wind are resembled, and yet the shaft does not damage the automobile due to the relatively rigid nature of the first portion thereof. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0005]     Novel features of the device in accordance with the present invention will be more readily understood from a consideration of the following description taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which a preferred adaptation is illustrated with the various parts thereof identified by suitable reference characters in each of the views.  
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a side elevational view of an embodiment of the device, showing partial cross sections.  
         [0007]      FIG. 2  is a front elevational view of an embodiment of the device, shown without the balloon cup portion of the device.  
         [0008]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a portion of the device, showing a wedge for attaching the device to an automobile connected to the shaft member of the device.  
         [0009]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the more flexible second upper portion of the shaft of an embodiment of the device, with a balloon cup at its uppermost end.  
         [0010]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the balloon cup portion of the device attached to the upper portion of the shaft.  
         [0011]      FIG. 6A  is an exploded perspective view of a portion of an embodiment of the device, showing a suction cup means for attaching the device for an automobile.  
         [0012]      FIG. 6B  is a perspective view of the portion of the device as shown in  FIG. 6A , assembled.  
         [0013]      FIG. 7A  is an exploded front elevational view with internal features shown of an embodiment of means for detachably coupling the shaft to the means for attachment.  
         [0014]      FIG. 7B  is a front elevational view, with internal features shown, of the detachable coupling means of  FIG. 7A , shown as assembled. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0015]     Referring initially to  FIG. 1 , an embodiment of the invention provides a device  10  having a means for attachment  12  of the device  10  to an automobile which can be formed as a wedge or bracket, depicted here in the form of a wide L-shaped bracket  12  adapted to slide between the outer surface of a side window of an automobile and the portion of the automobile body abutting the outer surface of the side window, namely the rain gutter. The side window and the rain gutter of the automobile body press against the wedge or bracket  12  in order to securely but removably attach the device  10  to the automobile. This feature allows installation of the device  10  on the automobile without the need to roll down the window. This provides the significant practical advantage of allowing installation or removal of the device  10  from an automobile without need for rolling the window up or down. As may be appreciated in connection with automobile sales lots with many automobiles on display, it is beneficial to avoid the laborious process of obtaining the key for each automobile, entering each automobile to roll the window down and up to install a balloon display device, and, perhaps, engaging the electrical system or starting the engine of the automobile if necessary to roll down and up an electrically-activated automatic window.  
         [0016]     It is contemplated that the means for attachment  12  is formed of any acceptable material such as rubber, thermoplastic material or metallic material. It is additionally contemplated that any conventional means of attaching a decorative device to an automobile also could be employed in place of the wedge or bracket  12 . For example, such conventional means of attaching the decorative device could comprise a non-lever suction or vacuum cup, a lever suction cup, magnetic attachment means, or adhesive attachment means. It is contemplated that the means for attaching  12  the device  10  to the automobile is adapted to do so without damage to the automobile exterior and to be easily and quickly removable, but is sufficiently securely attached to the automobile to provide secure attachment under windy conditions.  
         [0017]     The first portion  14  of the shaft, herein depicted as a rigid shaft  14 , is attached to the bracket  12  by any conventional means. For example, such means of attaching is the first portion  14  of the shaft to the bracket  12  could comprise a twist-lock joint allowing removable attachment of the first portion  14  to the bracket  12 . (See  FIGS. 7A, 7B  and  7 C). The first portion  14  extends upwardly from bracket  12  toward the rooftop of the automobile. It is also contemplated that the first portion  14  could extend at or be adjusted to any angle, forwardly or backwardly, oblique to the horizontal axis of the automobile. This would allow the device  10  optionally to display the balloon at an angle, rather than vertically, thus appearing to trail behind the automobile.  
         [0018]     The first portion  14  is more rigid than the second portion  16 , which is in the nature of a whip shaft. The first portion  14  is attached to the bracket  12 , and runs directly from the top of the bracket  12 , straight up or at an oblique angle as described earlier, until it reaches a point high enough to hold the shaft away from the surface of the automobile, optionally extending upward vertically past the top of the rooftop of the automobile. The first portion  14  has rigidity, by reason of material or design, sufficient to keep the lower portion of the shaft of the device  10  from moving significantly, thereby protecting the automobile from damage due to contact with the device  10  as the shaft sways in response to wind or other impetus.  
         [0019]     The shaft&#39;s second portion  16  is attached by any conventional means  22  to the first portion  14 , and is in the nature of a whip shaft. The first portion  14  and second portion  16  are connected by any conventional means or can be integrally formed. This second portion  16  is a more flexible portion, allowing relatively free movement of the balloon or other visual display item  24  to be attached at the end of the whip shaft  16 . The whip shaft  16  is more flexible shaft, made so via materials or design, able to move and whip in wind in a manner resembling the natural movement of helium-filled balloons in windy conditions or when attached to moving automobiles. The whip shaft  16  extends above the rooftop of the automobile, or perhaps slightly above or beyond the rear surfaces of the automobile in the case of the oblique angle placement described above. The whipping motion of the end of the whip shaft  16  is free in any direction, but whip shaft  16  has sufficient rigidity to support the balloon above the automobile even when the balloon is filled with ordinary air rather than helium.  
         [0020]     The means for attaching  18  the balloon is depicted as a balloon cup in  FIG. 1 , shown in more detail in  FIG. 5 . Any conventional means of attaching a balloon to a shaft can be used. The balloon can be attached by being glued, taped, tied, or otherwise adhered to the whip shaft  16 .  
         [0021]     The balloon to be attached at the attachment member  18  can be of any acceptable material, such as latex, plastic, or Mylar. It is contemplated that a balloon attached to the device could bear any visual message desired, including decorative or useful messages. For use in connection with the invention, the balloon can be filled with ordinary air, because the device  10  has a shaft of sufficient rigidity to hold the balloon aloft in a relatively upright position even when the balloon is filled with ordinary air, thereby mimicking the appearance of a helium-filled balloon without the costs and labor associated with installing and maintaining helium-filled balloons.  
         [0022]      FIG. 2  depicts a portion of the device of the present invention in a front elevational view. It shows the means for attachment  12  fashioned as a solid L-shaped bracket that slides between the outer surface of a side window of an automobile and the rain gutter of the window. The design offers the advantage of allowing of installation or removal of the device from an automobile without the need for rolling the window up or down.  
         [0023]      FIG. 3  depicts a portion of the device of the present invention, in a perspective view showing in more detail the means for attachment  12 . As depicted in this view, means for attachment  12  is fashioned as an L-shaped bracket that slides between the outer surface of a side window of an automobile and the rain gutter of the window, offering the advantage of allowing installation or removal of the device  10  from an automobile without the need for rolling the window up or down.  FIG. 3  depicts the bracket  12  as an L-shaped member attached via attachment means  20  depicted here as a cross-shaped weld of attachment member  12  on the bracket&#39;s top arm to first shaft portion  14 . Also depicted in  FIG. 3  are optional apertures  13   a ,  13   b  formed in the base arm  13  of the L-shaped bracket  12  to facilitate cost-effective manufacture and facilitate flexure or easy installation or removal of bracket  13 . Also depicted is the leading edge  13   c  of the base arm  13  of bracket  12 , which is the leading edge during insertion of the base arm  13  of the bracket  12  between the window and the rain gutter when attaching the device  10  to an automobile. When installed, bracket  12  has its top arm resting on or above the rain gutter portion of the automobile body.  
         [0024]      FIG. 4  depicts a portion of the device  10  in a perspective view, showing whip shaft  16  and its attachment means  22 , whereby whip shaft  16  is attached by any conventional means to the first shaft portion  14 . Whip shaft  16  can be formed integrally with first portion  14  of the shaft.  FIG. 4  also depicts a balloon  24  attached to the balloon attachment means  18 . It is an object of the invention to have the device adapted to accept balloons constructed of any acceptable material, such as latex, Mylar or plastic.  
         [0025]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a portion of the device, showing in more detail the means for attachment  18  of the balloon  24  to the end of the whip shaft  16 . As shown in this view, the means for attachment  18  is in the form of a balloon cup to which a balloon  24  can be affixed by any conventional means. As shown here, the balloon  24  is attached to a balloon cup, herein designed as a deformable thermoplastic balloon cup  18 , by means of an opening or slot  26 . The knotted end  28  of a balloon is slid into and held in the lower end of the slot  26  by friction and pinching between the balloon knot  28  and the edges of the deformable balloon cup  18  abutting the slot  26 .  
         [0026]      FIG. 6A  is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of a portion of the device, showing means for attaching  12  the device  10  to the automobile as a suction cup or vacuum cup. First shaft portion  14  is inserted or otherwise attached to the suction cup and may be coupled in either a permanent or a detachable manner.  
         [0027]      FIG. 6B  shows the portion of the device shown in  FIG. 6A  as assembled.  
         [0028]      FIG. 7A  is an exploded front elevational view, with internal features shown, of an embodiment of a means for detachably coupling the first shaft portion  14  to the means for attachment  12 . The advantage if detachable coupling, as can be accomplished with the feature shown in  FIG. 7A , is allowing easy replacement of the balloon or other visual display item  24 . The construction in  FIG. 7A  shows the shaft  14  being glued or otherwise permanently affixed within a receptacle formed inside the turn-key portion  15 A of the means of attaching  15 . Turn-key socket portion  15 B then receives insertion of turn-key portion  15 A, which is detachably coupled to socket portion  15 B when turn-key portion  15 A is rotated relative to socket portion  15 B to engage protrusions on turn-key portion  15 A with apertures formed on socket portion  15 B, as is shown in  FIG. 7B . Reversing this rotation and then removing the turn-key portion  15 A from the socket portion  15 B detaches portions  15 A and  15 B.  
         [0029]     Instead of a balloon, means for attachment  18  can also be shaped or otherwise adapted to attach other visual devices  24  to the end of whip shaft  16 , in the nature of any lightweight visual display means such as flags, pennants, banners, small placards, spinners, pinwheels, lights, or the like. A plurality of display means can be affixed to the shaft member in a number of positions along the shaft, or all at the end of the whip shaft  16 .  
         [0030]     It will be understood by persons skilled in the art that changes in form and detail from the foregoing embodiments may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined herein. The foregoing description is intended to illustrate a configuration according to the general principle of this invention.