Abstract:
An apparatus for selectively inflating multiple balloons simultaneously, sequentially, or in random order include a housing for storing pneumatic and electrical control devices and gas conduits. Ports are formed through the housing and each having a nozzle secured thereon. One end of one gas conduit is connected to an external source of pressurized gas and another end is in communication with the ports. An actuator is associated with each port for selectively actuating the delivery of pressurized gas to the associated nozzle manually or automatically. Each port may be automatically closed when predetermined parameters are met in the automatic mode.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority of Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/296,702 filed Jun. 7, 2001. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to an apparatus for inflating balloons. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Although balloons are used as scientific and transportation devices, to the general public, balloons are most popular as entertainment devices, especially at parties and amusement parks. It is common to provide a gift of multiple balloons for birthdays or other celebrations. However, often times the facilities, such as retail stores and vendors providing the service, only have the capability to inflate a single balloon at a time. As a result, long lines are formed at the facilities causing impatient customers and loss of sales. In addition, the operator of the balloon inflation device must monitor the inflation of the balloon continuously so that the balloon is not over-inflated. While the operator is monitoring the inflation of the balloon, other work at the facilities, and especially at a retail store cannot be accomplished. Therefore, the process of inflating balloons in the prior art is a slow and labor-consuming job. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is the intent of the invention to address the aforementioned concerns. The invention provides an apparatus for inflating balloons which is releasibly connectable to a source of pressurized gas. The apparatus comprises a means for selectively inflating a single balloon or a plurality of balloons simultaneously, in sequence, or in random order wherein the means for selectively inflating the balloons include at least two nozzles communicating with the source of pressurized gas. Each nozzle has a free end for receiving a portion of the balloon thereon, wherein the free end is configured for a secure and releasibly sealing connection to the balloon during the inflation thereof. 
     In another aspect of the invention, the apparatus includes an actuator associated with each nozzle for selectively actuating the delivery of pressurized gas to the associated nozzle either manually or automatically. 
     In a further aspect of the invention, the apparatus includes means for automatically stopping the flow of pressurized gas to a balloon. 
     Other applications of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art when the following description of the best mode contemplated for practicing the invention is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The description herein makes reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, and wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus for inflating balloons according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a portion of the apparatus illustrating a portion of the pneumatic and electronic system; 
     FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a nozzle on the apparatus of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is an alternative embodiment of a nozzle on the apparatus of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 5 is a portion of the apparatus of FIG. 1 showing multiple nozzles of the embodiment shown in FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 6 is another alternative embodiment of a nozzle; 
     FIG. 7 is a schematic of the pneumatic system incorporated in the apparatus; 
     FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the apparatus for inflating balloons; 
     FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a second alternative embodiment of the apparatus for inflating balloons; 
     FIG. 10 is perspective view of a third alternative embodiment of the apparatus for inflating balloons; 
     FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a fourth alternative embodiment of the apparatus for inflating balloons; 
     FIG. 12 is an elevational view of a fifth alternative embodiment of the apparatus for inflating balloons; 
     FIG. 13 is an elevational view of a sixth alternative embodiment of the apparatus for inflating balloons; 
     FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a skeletal infrastructure for the apparatus; and 
     FIG. 15 is a front elevational view of the skeletal infrastructure in FIG.  12 . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     As illustrated in FIGS. 1-13, the invention provides a hands-free and automatic apparatus for inflating a single balloon or multiple number of balloons simultaneously, in sequence, or in random order. The apparatus  10  includes a rectangular, hollow base  12  for storing the electronic and pneumatic control components. A tower  14  extends from an upper surface of the base  12 . Preferably, the base  12  is made of an aluminum material for durability, since the base  12  encloses the control components. The base  12  may have a removable or hinged lid  13  so that an operator may gain access to the control components. The tower is preferably a plastic or a light weight aluminum material to maintain the total weight of the apparatus to a minimum. As seen in FIG. 2, a center aperture  16  provides access from the base  12  to the tower  14  for electronic and pneumatic conduits to extend from the components in the base to the nozzle and activating switches in the tower  14 . 
     The base  12  includes a first conduit  18  extending externally from the interior of the base  12  to a power source  20  and a second conduit  22  extending externally to a pressure gauge  24  with an end connectable to a pressurized gas source. The power source  20  may be a wall outlet or a 24 volt battery, or other variable voltage sources from 12-120 V. The pressurized gas may be any non-combustible and inert gas such as helium, nitrogen, carbon dioxide and compressed air. The second conduit  22  is directed to individual “on/off” solenoids  28 . There is an individual “on/off” solenoid  28  for each nozzle opening  30   a  and  30   b.  The solenoids  28  are normally closed and actuated by buttons or toggle switches  32  positioned adjacent to its associated nozzle. When the button or toggle switch  32  is activated, the associated “on/off” solenoid  28  opens to allow the flow of pressurized gas through conduits  29  to the associated nozzle  30   a,    30   b.  The pressurized gas continues flow through the nozzle until the solenoid  28  is switched to the “off” position. The solenoid  28  may be switched “off” by a sensor, timer, or manual activation. 
     In the present invention, it is preferred to regulate the inflation of a latex balloon in one manner. Balloons having a polyester film with a foil or metallic looking exterior are commonly referred to as Mylar™ balloons and are regulated in another manner. Latex balloons  38  come in a variety of sizes with known volumes. In the preferred embodiment it is intended to provide a dial or switch  34  for each nozzle for inflating a latex balloon  38 . The dial or switch  34  will be provided on the base  12  for selection of a particular parameter by the user. The parameter is preferably the volume of the balloon to be inflated, however diameter size may be an alternative parameter. The selection on the dial or switch  34  on the base  12  of the apparatus  10  will be connected to and programmed to a timer  36  within the base  12 . A low-voltage timer  36  is provided for each nozzle  30   a  available for inflating a latex balloon so that the timer  36  is compatible with a 24 volt source of power. The low-voltage timer  36  is preprogrammed for a specific time related to each selection on the dial or switch  34 . The low-voltage timer  36  sends a signal to the associated solenoid  28  to move to the “off” position after the selected time has expired. The timer  36  will reset automatically for the next actuation. 
     Latex balloons  38  have an elasticity to the body of the balloon as well as in the neck portion. A typical latex balloon  38  includes a neck  40  having a single rib  42  along its free and opened end. The neck configuration of a latex balloon  38  allows for a gripping formation around tubular structures, such as a nozzle. However, when pressurized gas is blown into the balloon  38  through the tubular structures, the force of the pressurized gas overcomes the gripping tendency of the neck  40  of the balloon  38 . As a result, if the balloon  38  is not physically held by the user or by mechanical means to the tubular structure, the balloon can be expelled from the tubular structure by the force of the pressurized fluid or gas. The present invention provides nozzle configurations for the latex balloon  38  that allow for installation of the balloon thereon with little effort. In addition, the configuration of the nozzle ends provide for a firm grip of the neck  40  of the balloon during the inflation process. 
     FIG. 3 shows the preferred nozzle  30   a  for a latex balloon  38  with a balloon installed thereon shown in phantom. The nozzle  30   a  extends from the vertical tower  14  of the apparatus  10 . The nozzle is a narrow, cylindrical tube  50  terminating at a frustoconical shape  44 . The expanded end  46  of the frustoconical shape faces the tower  14  and tapers therefrom to the end opening  48 . Therefore, an operator can install a balloon quickly and easily onto the nozzle  30   a,  shown in FIG. 3, by rolling the rib  42  of the balloon  38  around and up the tapered end of the frustoconical shape  44 , until the rib  42  of the neck  40  grips the smaller diameter tube  50  of the nozzle  30   a.  When the inflation apparatus  10  is activated for this particular nozzle  30   a,  the force of the gas pressure through the nozzle can only move the neck  40  of the balloon to the expanded end  46  of the frustoconical shape  44 . As a result, a mechanical device or the operator is not required to grip or hold the balloon  38  onto the nozzle  30   a.  This provides an advantage for the operator to accomplish other tasks during the inflation process. 
     FIG.  6 . shows an alternative embodiment of the end of the nozzle for a latex balloon  38 . This nozzle has a teardrop formation  52  at its exposed end which allows the user to use the teardrop formation to insert within the neck  40  of the balloon and then expand the neck to grip around the tubular nozzle. The teardrop formation at the end of the nozzle  30   a  includes an inner face  54  with prevents the ribbed end  42  of the neck  40  of the balloon  38  to escape during the inflation process. 
     The Mylar™ balloon  56  does not include or have an expandable neck as is available in the latex balloon  38 . Therefore, the nozzle for inflating a Mylar™ balloon  56  has a different configuration. The nozzle  30   b  for a Mylar™ balloon  56  is shown more clearly in FIG.  4 . The nozzle  30   b  for the Mylar™ balloon  56  has a tapered end  57  upon which the neck  58  of the Mylar™ balloon  56  can grip. The tapered end  57  of the nozzle accommodates the various available sizes of Mylar™ balloons  56 . 
     The inflation of the Mylar™ balloon  56  is activated in the same manner as for latex balloons  38 . After installing the Mylar™ balloon  56  on the nozzle  30   b,  the user depresses the adjacent actuating button  32 . The inflation of a Mylar™ balloon is automatically stopped by means of a pressure sensor  60 . A pair of gas conduits extend to the nozzle  30   b  for a Mylar™ balloon. (This is shown more clearly in FIG. 2.) The first gas conduit  62  communicates with the gas pressure source and allows pressurized gas to the Mylar™ nozzle  30   b  when the solenoid  28  is in the “on” position. The second gas conduit  64  extends from the end of the nozzle  30   b  for a Mylar™ balloon  56  and terminates at the pressure sensor  60 . The second gas conduit  64  transmits back pressure in the Mylar™ balloon  56  back to the pressure sensor  60  during the inflation process. Once the pressure has reached the predetermined level, the pressure sensor  60  signals the “on/off” solenoid  28  to the “off” position. 
     Because the pressure of the Mylar™ balloon  56  is constantly being monitored during the inflation process, it is preferred that the nozzle  30   b  for the Mylar™ balloon  56  is directed vertically downward when the base is positioned on a level surface as shown in FIG.  1 . As the Mylar™ balloon  56  is being inflated, if the Mylar™ nozzle  30   b  is positioned horizontally or at an angle greater than approximately 45° from vertically downward, the Mylar™ balloon  56  tends to crimp at its neck  58  during the inflation process and cannot provide an accurate reading of the pressure in the Mylar™ balloon. The orientation of the nozzle  30   a  for latex balloons  38  during the inflation process is not as critical, except when used with a sealing product, such as Hi Float™. If a sealing product is used, the apparatus  10  may be provided with a separate conduit  33  to the nozzle  30   a  that is attached to the source of the sealing product  35 . Further, if a sealing product is used, it is preferred that the nozzle  30   a  is directed horizontally so that the sealing product does not get into the air conduits  31 . 
     Although the one embodiment as shown in FIG. 1 shows the nozzles  30   a,    30   b  for inflating both Mylar™ and latex balloons located in the tower portion of the apparatus, other variations are possible. The tower formation provides surface area for multiple nozzles and actuating buttons for the apparatus. Although only two latex nozzles  30   a  and one Mylar™ nozzle  30   b  are shown extending from the tower  14 , multiple nozzles for either latex and/or Mylar™ balloons may be positioned on the tower  14 . FIG. 5 shows the top portion of the tower  14  including a pair of Mylar™ nozzles  30   b  and their associated actuating buttons  32 . 
     In smaller versions of the apparatus of the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 8-10 the tower  14  may be eliminated so that the base  12  includes both the pneumatic and electric components as well as the extending nozzles  30   a,    30   b.  FIG. 1 shows an example of the nozzles  30   a  for latex balloons extending from the base  12  in phantom. Although the apparatus, as shown in FIG. 1, encompassing a base  12  and a tower  14  can be easily transported from one commercial area to another commercial area easily, the smaller version, which encompasses only the base  12 , allows for easier transport to outdoor picnic and home environments. The adaptability to function on twenty-four volts provides an advantage of being portable so that it can be hooked up to a power converter, which can then be hooked up to a 12 Volt outlet in a car i.e. a cigarette lighter. 
     FIG. 8 shows the apparatus  10  for inflating balloons without a tower  14  and yet having the capability of inflating four latex balloons through nozzles  30   a  and one Mylar™ balloon through nozzle  30   b  simultaneously, in sequence, or in random order. 
     Each nozzle  30   a,    30   b  has an associated activation button  32 . The nozzles  30   a  for latex balloons each have an associated switch  34  for selection of the appropriate parameter, such as volume or diameter of the balloon inserted over the particular nozzle  30   a.    
     FIG. 9 shows another embodiment of the apparatus  10  without a tower  14 . The embodiment in FIG. 9 provides for four latex balloon nozzles  30   a  and two Mylar™ balloon nozzles  30   b.  Each nozzle  30   a,    30   b  has an associated activation button and each latex balloon nozzle  30   a  has an associated switch  34  for selection of the appropriate parameter of the balloon. 
     FIGS. 8 and 9 each illustrate a means for providing a Mylar™ nozzle  30   b  on the base  12  portion of the apparatus  10 . For an accurate reading of the pressure in the Mylar™ balloon as it is being inflated, it is preferred that the nozzle  30   b  end extends vertically downwardly. In FIGS. 8 and 9, the nozzles  30   b  have an elbow or L-shape extension  31  and provide for limited rotatable movement relative to the base  12 . The rotatable movement of the elbow extension  31  is preferably limited to 90° in either direction from the vertically downward position shown in the Figures. The rotatable movement of the elbow extensions  31  of nozzles  30   b  allow for easy packing, transporting and accommodating limited space at the site. 
     FIG. 10 is as embodiment of a smaller version of the apparatus  10  which provides two latex balloon nozzles  30   a  with its associated buttons  32  and switches  34 . 
     FIG. 11 is another embodiment of the apparatus having a different configuration of the tower  14 . The tower  14  is cylindrically shaped and does not include an elbow shaped portion  15  at its upper end as shown in FIG. 1. A pair of Mylar™ nozzles  30   b  with rotatable elbow extensions  31  extend from the tower  14  in FIG.  11 . Four latex balloon nozzles  30   a  extend upwardly from the base  12 . Each nozzle  30   a,    30   b  has an associated button  32 . Each latex balloon nozzle  30   a  also includes an associated switch  34  for selection of the appropriate parameter of the balloon  38 . Although, the Figures show the switch  34  in the base  12 , the switch  34  may be located anywhere on the apparatus  10 . Preferably the switch  34  is located proximate to its associated nozzle  30   a  to allow the operator to distinguish the appropriate switch  34  for the selected nozzle  30   a.  Other modifications may be provided as enhancements to the apparatus  10 . As an example, the apparatus may be provided with ribbon cutters  70 , preferably located on the base  12 , for cutting the tie string or ribbon attached to the balloon by the operator. As can be seen in FIGS. 8-11 the ribbon cutters  70  may be placed at various locations on the apparatus  10  for easy access thereto. As seen in FIG.  11 . the cutters  70  may also be located on the tower  14 . 
     As another alternative, it may be preferred to incorporate the toggle switch or button  32  with the dial  34  as illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 13. Further, the toggle switch or button  32  can be used in conjunction with the dial  34  to indicate whether the balloon will be automatically inflated or manually inflated. As an illustrative example, if the dial  34  is positioned at the volume indicator of “0” then the toggle switch or button  32  functions in the manual mode to inflate the balloon only when the toggle switch  32  is positioned in the “on” position or when the button  32  is depressed. Once the button  32  is released or the toggle switch  32  is repositioned to the “off” mode, the inflation process is deactivated. However, if the dial  34  is set to a predetermined volume or diameter value greater than “0”, the toggle switch or button  32  will function in the automatic mode as an automatic actuator as discussed supra. This feature allows the operator to selectively inflate the balloons either automatically or manually. 
     In instances where the operator initially inflates the balloon automatically, the operator may decide afterward to manually inflate the same balloon beyond the predetermined automatic volume. In those cases, the operator would place the dial or switch  34  into manual mode and depress button  32  to actuate the further inflation of the balloon. Once the operator releases the button  32  inflation will stop. Although FIGS. 12 and 13 show the manual or automatic modes incorporated with the button  32  and dial  34 , the manual/automatic modes may be designated by a separate switch (not shown) placed adjacent to the button  32  or dial  34 . Further, it is known that the embodiments in FIGS. 1-2 and  8 - 14  can incorporate a manual and automatic mode as well as the button and dial configuration shown in FIGS. 12 and 13. 
     FIGS. 12 and 13 also illustrate the various designs envisioned for the apparatus to provide interest and curiosity among the customers. Such designs could include space shuttles, rockets, as well as others. FIG. 13 also illustrates separating the button  32  and switch  34  from the nozzle  30   a,    30   b.  An identifying symbol or color can be associated with each button  32  and switch  34  which matches the symbol or color on or near the corresponding nozzle  30   a,    30   b.  Further, both FIGS. 12 and 13 illustrate that the base  12  can have other configurations, but preferably includes a flat bottom surface  39  for placement on another level surface, such as a table or the ground. 
     Another modification may include a skeletal infrastructure  80  (as shown in FIGS. 14-15) for housing or attaching the electronic and pneumatic control components within the tower  14 . The skeletal infrastructure will have a configuration of at least a portion of the apparatus  10  for placement therein. The skeletal infrastructure  80  is preferably made of a light weight material. The infrastructure  80  provides conventional attachment means such as brackets for connecting the power supply (such as a 24 volt battery), the solenoid valves, and conduits thereto. The skeletal infrastructure  80  may also include the nozzles  30   a,    30   b  extending therefrom. As can be seen, the apparatus  10  for inflating balloons can be any configuration (whether predominantly a vertical or horizontal structure) which will house the control components as well as the pneumatic lines. 
     The present invention provides a number of advantages over other devices in the prior art for inflating balloons. In particular, the present invention provides a hands-free and user-friendly apparatus that allows for a single or multiple number of balloons to be inflated at the same time, sequentially, or in random order. Once the balloons are connected to the nozzles and the associated activation switch is depressed, the apparatus operates automatically so that the operator may occupy that time with other tasks. For the retail store owner, the apparatus of the present invention occupies minimum space within the store. The present invention is a cost savings device which prevents overinflation of the balloons so that a savings of 30-40% consumption of the gas is realized. Operating the apparatus is simple and requires minimum effort and training of the store personnel. 
     While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims, which scope is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures as is permitted under the law.