Abstract:
A balloon tying device has a base adapted for attaching to a support structure. A cantilever, supported by the base and protruding away from the support structure, is attached to the base. The cantilever has a U-shaped cross section and two ears defining generally parallel planes extending outwardly and terminating at the tip for retaining a loop of balloon material. Inside the U-shape of the cantilever is an axially oriented recess for passing ribbon and providing clearance for tucking the overhand knot. A brace tab extends downward from the lower edge of the base. A ribbon retainer is disposed on the device for integrating spooled or pre-cut ribbon into the balloon knot. The support structure can be human fingers, a station stanchion, a tank stand, or a caddy leg.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent 60/890,478 filed Feb. 17, 2007. This application is also related to U.S. Pat. No. 5,568,950, issued Oct. 28, 1996. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This invention relates to devices that aid in tying knots and more particularly to portable devices with support structures to aid in hand-tying half-hitch knots, especially in balloons and the like. Spooled and pre-cut ribbon can be tied integral with the knot. A tying station, tank stand and caddy to support and transport the devices are also taught. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Balloons with ribbons and the like are generally tied with a half-hitch knot. First, a loop is made in the balloon tail, passing the end over the standing part, then passing the end under the standing part and through the loop. See The World Book Dictionary, Clarence L. Barnhart and Robert K. Barnhart, editors, World Book, Inc., publisher, 1990, page 956, column 3. The loop is usually made around one or more fingers, which has disadvantages, among which are: 1. Difficulty of passing the end through the loop, because the material is generally kept very tight to prevent air or gas from escaping from the balloon; 2. Damage to the material while tying the knot therein; 3. Fatigue of the hands, especially the fingers, due to tying many balloons; 4. Extra time is often required to avoid or cope with the above listed disadvantages. 
     There are various commercially available devices which can be attached to the open ends of balloons to seal the air or gas there inside. Such products do not relate to the invention because when such devices are removed from the balloon, the air or gas escapes therefrom. 
     Other devices, such as that disclosed by Peverley in U.S. Pat. No. 4,989,906, issued on Feb. 5, 1991, attach to fixed support means via a bracket. Such devices are not generally portable since they must be secured to a fixed support. There is a need for a balloon tying device which can be held in the hand or positioned on a stanchion while operated with both hands to facilitate easy tying of balloons. 
     See also: U.S. Pat. No. 5,314,217 to Place, issued on May 24, 1994; U.S. Pat. No. 5,039,142 to Muma, issued on Aug. 13, 1991; U.S. Pat. No. 4,864,762 to Cox, issued on Sep. 12, 1989; U.S. Pat. No. 4,029,346 to Browning, issued on Jun. 14, 1977; U.S. Pat. No. 3,837,691 to Smythe, issued on Sep. 24, 1974; and U.S. Pat. No. 1,008,190 to O&#39;Connell, issued on Nov. 7, 1911. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the foregoing and other objects are achieved by a balloon tying device having a base adapted for attaching to a support structure. A cantilever, supported by the base and protruding away from the support structure, is attached to the base. The cantilever has a U-shaped cross section, a proximal region closest to the base and a distal region. The proximal region has two ears defining generally parallel planes extending outwardly; each of the ears terminates in a distal retaining edge for retaining a loop of balloon material. Inside the U-shape of the cantilever is an axially oriented recess extending from the proximal region and between the ears to the distal region. A brace tab extends downward from the lower edge of the base. 
     A ribbon retainer is disposed on the device. The ribbon retainer has a proximal ribbon retaining section and a distal ribbon retaining section. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front view of a first embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of the first embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of the first embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 4  is an isometric view of the first embodiment of the invention. 
         FIGS. 5-8  show four sequential steps in a method of using the invention to tie a knot in a balloon. 
         FIG. 9  is an isometric view of a second embodiment of the invention using spooled ribbon. 
         FIG. 10  is an isometric view of a third embodiment of the invention using pre-cut ribbon. 
         FIG. 11  is a side view showing the feed path of the spooled and pre-cut ribbon. 
         FIG. 12  is a front view of the invention using pre-cut ribbon. 
         FIG. 13  is an isometric view of the invention mounted in a tying station and using spooled ribbon with three stanchion stations and the balloon gas nozzle. 
         FIG. 14  is an isometric of the invention mounted on a gas tank stand with ribbon spools. 
         FIG. 15  is an isometric view of the caddy in a closed or packed condition. 
         FIG. 16  is an isometric of the caddy base showing the cutouts for accessories. 
         FIG. 17  is an isometric of the caddy with the first folding leg extended. 
         FIG. 18  is an isometric of the caddy in an intermediate folded state. 
         FIG. 19  is an isometric of the caddy in a fully unfolded state. 
         FIG. 20  is an isometric of the caddy with ribbon spools and tying devices mounted. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-4 , one embodiment of the invention includes a base  1  which supports a cantilever  5 . The base  1  is hollow as shown, having an opening  3  to assist in mounting to a support structure. The support structure can be fingers, preferably first and second fingers, or a stanchion in a tying station, or a tank stand, or a caddy leg, or a waist belt device. 
     The cantilever  5  has a U-shaped cross section. Proximal to the base  1 , each side of the cantilever has an ear  7  which terminates in a retaining edge  11 . The two ears  7  and two retaining edges  11  are generally parallel due to the U-shape of the cantilever  5 . The purpose of the retaining edges  11  is to keep the balloon tying operation sufficiently above the hand to allow sufficient clearance for manipulation of the balloon with the other hand. 
     Above each ear  7  is a preferably slightly back slanted holding edge  9  which extends to the end  15  of the cantilever  5 . Near the end  15 , the holding edge  9  preferably has a radius  13  for ensuring that the balloon is not damaged upon removal from the device. The purpose of the holding edges  9  is to provide an opening there between to allow sufficient clearance for manipulation of the balloon through the opening with the other hand. The back slanting is for facilitating easy removal of a tied balloon. 
     An axially oriented recess  17  extends from the base and between the ears  7  and holding edges  9  to the end  15  for proving an opening through which a finger of the other hand can push the end of a balloon in order to complete a knot. The recess  17  should therefore be at least ⅝ inch wide, and preferably ¾ inch wide to fit most normal sized human fingers. 
     Spooled ribbon  101  or pre-cut ribbon  102  is routed through the axially oriented recess  17  and positioned to rest in the center opening of knot such that when the knot is cinched, the ribbon passes through the core of the knot thereby making the ribbon integral with the knot. This enables construction of a balloon arch on a continuous ribbon and also allows individual ribbons to be cut for each balloon. All embodiments of the invention can integrate either a single ribbon or multiple ribbons of the same color or different colors in the balloon knot. 
     Proximal ribbon retainer  103  and distal ribbon retainer  105  are positioned in ribbon retainer slots  107  and  109  such that the spooled ribbon  101  remains positioned in the lower quadrant of the axially oriented recess  17  thereby allowing easy access for fingers during tying. 
     A brace tab  19  preferably extends downward from the base  1  to rest on a portion of the support structure to stabilize the tying device. Many, if not all, corners and edges of the device are preferably rounded or curled as shown in the drawings to ensure comfort and ease of use. 
     The device is preferably constructed of plastic, and is preferably fabricated by injection molding and snap assembled. However, any suitable conventional material can be used, and any suitable conventional fabrication means can be used. 
     The device can be used to tie a knot in any material which can be wrapped around the cantilever and passed through the recess  17 . A preferred method of using the device is illustrated in sequential  FIGS. 5-8 . Referring to  FIG. 5 , an embodiment of the invention is slid over two fingers  12 ,  14  of one hand  16  as shown. Ribbon  101  is passed through the fingers and held in position, clear of the tying fingers, by ribbon retainers  103  and  105  positioned in ribbon retainer slots  107  and  109 . The invention can be used in this manner over any one or more fingers and can also mount on another support structure such as a stanchion in a tying station, or a tank stand, or a caddy leg, or a waist belt device. 
     Referring next to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , an inflated balloon  20  is held with the thumb  18  of the one hand  16 , whilst the open end  22  thereof is stretched across the two holding edges  9  just distally of the retaining edges  11 . Then the open end  22  is wrapped around the cantilever  5  until it crosses over itself at point A. Additionally, a ribbon spool  110  can be mounted on the base to feed spooled ribbon  101  through the axially oriented recess  17 . 
     Referring next to  FIG. 8 , the open end is passed under itself, then upwardly through the recess  17 , forming a half-hitch knot  30  around the cantilever  5 . The knot  30  is then easily slid distally off the cantilever  5  with the ribbon positioned integral with the knot  30 . The knot is rapidly pulled to tightness to complete the half-hitch knot with integral ribbon in the balloon to seal the same and hold compressed air or gas therein. This enables tying a balloon archway having a continuous ribbon through multiple balloons or having individual ribbons for each balloon. The knot can also be tied by crossing under itself and downwardly through the recess  17 . 
       FIG. 9  is an isometric view of a second embodiment of the invention preferably used for tying balloons to spooled ribbon  101 . Instead of using bands to retain the ribbon, two pins are removably disposed in the recess  17  of the cantilever  5 . A proximal pin  90  is removably disposed in the cantilever proximal region and a distal pin  92  is removably disposed in the cantilever distal region. Spooled ribbon  101  is fed beneath the pins and remains in the lower quadrant of the recess  17  to clear way for tying the knot in a balloon. Spooled ribbon can be continuously fed through the device thereby enabling multiple balloons to be integrated on the same length of ribbon for use in balloon arches. 
       FIG. 10  is an isometric view of a third embodiment of the invention preferably used for tying balloons to pre-cut ribbons of any length, preferably between 2 and 6 feet. A distal ribbon guide  94  is removably disposed in the distal cantilever region, preferably by snapping the guide&#39;s rear lip projection under the distal pin  92  for a press fit. The proximal pin  90  is not used with pre-cut ribbon. A proximal ribbon guide  96  is disposed on the upper edge of the base  1 . The center portion of the proximal ribbon guide has two mounting slots  98  that can be used to mount the device to a support structure. If the support structure blocks the center portion of the proximal ribbon guide  96  a side portion of the proximal ribbon guide  96  can be used to guide the pre-cut ribbon into the recess  17 . Other tying operations are common to all embodiments. 
       FIG. 13  shows an embodiment of the invention in a tying station  112  that allows users to travel to parties and such for tying the balloons on-site. Station stanchions  116  are removably disposed on the station  112  as support structure for the tyers. A balloon gas nozzle  114  is removably disposed on the tying station  112 . A separate gas bottle (not shown) supplies balloon gas to the gas nozzle. The tying station folds to a suitcase-like container that holds the tying devices, stanchions, and other accessories for safe transport and opens at the job site for quick setup. 
       FIG. 14  shows another embodiment of the invention. A tank stand  140  support structure is removably disposed on a balloon gas tank  142  with at least one tying device removably mounted to the tank stand  140 . Spooled ribbon  101  and pre-cut ribbon  102  can be used in this embodiment, and used for balloon tying in a similar manner to other embodiments. 
       FIGS. 15-20  show another embodiment of the invention that uses a folding caddy  150  as support structure for the tying devices. A caddy base  152  has tying accessory storage cutouts  154  used for storing necessary tying accessories. A first folding caddy leg  156  serves as support structure for a tying device  158 . A second folding caddy leg  160  supports at least one ribbon spool stand  162 . A clamp  164  removably mounts the caddy to a table (not shown). Balloon tying operations are similar to other embodiments. 
     Another embodiment of the invention uses a waist belt or the like as support structure for the tying device. This enables wearing the balloon tyer at waist level for walking to various locations and immediately tying balloons on the spot. 
     While there has been shown and described what are at present considered the preferred embodiments of the invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the scope.