Patent Publication Number: US-2012031526-A1

Title: Balloon shaping apparatus and methods

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     A claim for the benefit of priority is hereby made, pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §119(e), to the Jul. 1, 2010, filing date of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/360,846, titled “BALLOON SHAPING APPARATUS AND METHOD.” The entire disclosure of that provisional patent application is, by this reference, hereby incorporated into this disclosure. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This application relates generally to apparatus and methods for shaping elongate balloons. More specifically, this application relates to apparatus and methods for shaping the lengths of elongate balloons before and/or while they are inflated. Various embodiments of balloon shaping apparatuses may be configured to impart an elongate balloon with a variety of shapes, including, but not limited to, somewhat circular shapes and helical shapes. 
     RELATED ART 
     Inexpensive party balloons or novelty balloons of various sizes and colors are often inflated into various shapes for parties and other special occasions. The balloons ay be inflated with air, helium or other gaseous materials. 
     An uninflated elongate, tubular novelty balloon usually includes a long, thin tubule that is integral with and projects from an open neck, through which gasses are introduced into the balloon. Prior to inflation, the long, thin tubule is in a collapsed state, which is typically flat. 
     Once an elongate, tubular novelty balloon has been inflated, it may be twisted and bent, by hand, into various shapes or figures. Examples include shapes that, approximate animals, hats, swords and other objects. Although speed is often desired when shaping elongate, tubular novelty balloons, hand-shaping is typically a laborious and time consuming process. Hand-shaping also affects the ability to consistently form a plurality of balloons into the same shape with the same dimensions. 
     SUMMARY 
     A balloon shaping apparatus of the present invention includes a balloon shaping element. The balloon shaping element includes surfaces that may be used to define the shape of an elongate, tubular novelty balloon, which, for the sake of simplicity, may also be referred to hereinafter as an “elongate balloon.” In a specific, but non-limiting embodiment, the balloon shaping element comprises an elongate cylinder, the shape of a cross-sectional taken normal to the length of which is circular. Such a balloon shaping element may be used to form at least portions of the lengths of elongate balloons into circular, oval or helical shapes. Of course, balloon shaping elements of other shapes (e.g., square or rectangular cross-sectional shapes, triangular cross-sectional shapes, other regular and irregular polygonal cross-sectional shapes, etc.) may also be included as at least a part of a balloon shaping apparatus. 
     A retention feature may be associated with a balloon shaping element. In some embodiments, the retention feature may include a receptacle (e.g., a slot, etc.) formed in the balloon shaping element and a clamp retained by the receptacle. 
     Systems that include balloon shaping apparatus, one or more balloons and inflation apparatus are also disclosed. 
     In use, a closed end of an elongate balloon may be secured to a first location along the length (or height) of a balloon shaping element. The elongate balloon may then be at least partially pulled (i.e., a tensile load applied along at least a portion of the length of the balloon) and wrapped around the balloon shaping element. While the elongate balloon remains at least partially wrapped around the balloon shaping element, the portion of the elongate balloon that is at least partially wrapped around the balloon shaping element may be at least partially inflated. While the air or gas(es) within the balloon is (are) contained within the elongate balloon, the elongate balloon may be unwrapped from the balloon shaping element. Once an elongate balloon has been removed from the balloon shaping element, and the neck or some other portion of the elongate balloon sealed to retain air or gas(es) therein, the elongate balloon may be subjected to further shaping (e.g., manual shaping, etc.). 
     Balloons that have been shaped using an apparatus and/or method of this disclosure may be used in a variety of environments, including balloon arrangements. 
     Other aspects, as well as various features and advantages of various aspects, of the present invention will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art through consideration of the ensuing description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the drawings: 
         FIGS. 1-4  respectively provide perspective, side, front and top views of an embodiment of balloon shaping apparatus; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the embodiment of balloon shaping apparatus shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , with a retention element secured to a balloon shaping element of the balloon shaping apparatus; 
         FIGS. 6-18  illustrate various acts in an embodiment of a process for forming elongate balloons into shapes; and 
         FIGS. 19-21  depict a few examples of shapes into which elongate balloons may be formed. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1-4 , an embodiment of balloon shaping apparatus  10 , which may also be referred to as an EZ TWIST balloon shaper, is shown. The EZ TWIST balloon shaper may be used to provide a balloon artist (e.g., working in a party shop, etc.) with a means for quickly and easily creating shaped elongate balloons; in some embodiments, with visibly (or substantially) consistent dimensions from one balloon to another. 
     In the depicted embodiment, the balloon shaping apparatus  10  includes a base  12  that supports, and to which is anchored, a balloon shaping element  14 . In a specific embodiment, the balloon shaping element  14  extends from the base  12  in a direction substantially perpendicular to a plane through the base  12 . In some embodiments, such as that depicted by  FIGS. 1-4 , the base  12  may be configured to rest upon a surface while supporting the balloon shaping element  14  in an upright (e.g., vertically extending, etc.) or somewhat upright orientation. 
     Without limiting the scope of the present invention, the base  12  of a balloon shaping apparatus  10  may be square in shape (e.g., having dimensions of about eight (8) inches by about eight (8) inches and a thickness of about a quarter (¼) of an inch, etc.). The balloon shaping element 14 of such a balloon shaping apparatus 10 may comprise an elongate element, such as a cylinder (e.g., a rod or pole with a diameter of about one and a half (1.5) inches and a length of about eighteen (18) inches, etc.), a regular polygonal prism, an irregular polygonal prism, etc. 
     The balloon shaping apparatus  10  may also include a balloon retention element  20 . The balloon retention element  20  may be secured to the balloon shaping element  14 , or to any other feature of element of the balloon shaping apparatus  10 . In some embodiments, the balloon shaping apparatus  10  may be configured to secure at least a portion of an elongate balloon firmly against a portion of the balloon shaping element  14 . In the particular embodiment depicted by  FIG. 5 , the balloon retention element  20  comprises a clamp (e.g., a four (4) inch conventional clamp, etc.). In the specific embodiment depicted by  FIG. 5 , one element of a clamping end of the clamp may introduced into, then reside within, a receptacle  16  (e.g., a slot, etc.) in a surface of the balloon shaping element  14 , which will secure at least the clamping end of clamp to the balloon shaping element  14 . An opposite end of the clamp may also be secured to the balloon shaping element  14  in any suitable manner (e.g., with a bolt that extends through aligned retention holes in the balloon shaping element  14  and the clamp, and a complementary nut to secure the bolt in place; etc.). 
     In addition, a balloon shaping apparatus  10  may include other features. Without limiting the scope of the present invention, a cap  18  (e.g., a rounded rubber cap, a plastic cap, etc.) may be secured to an upper end of the balloon shaping element  14  (e.g., to provide it with a finished look, etc.); protective features (e.g., pads, etc.) may be secured to a bottom surface of the base  12  to prevent the base from damaging a surface upon which it is positioned; and/or securing elements (e.g., nuts and bolts and corresponding holes in the base  12 , etc.) may be included to permanently secure the base  12  to a surface (e.g., a countertop, a table, etc.). 
     In some embodiments, a balloon shaping apparatus  10  may be provided with a finish. By way of nonlimiting example, all or part of the balloon shaping apparatus  10  may be painted (e.g., with a colored powder coat, etc.). 
     A balloon shaping apparatus  10  may be part of a system for shaping balloons. In addition to the balloon shaping apparatus  10 , such as system may include one or more balloons (e.g., elongate balloons  30  ( FIGS. 6-21 ), etc.) and an inflation apparatus  38  ( FIGS. 11-17 ). In some embodiments of such a system, at least one balloon may be positioned at least partially against two or more surfaces of the balloon shaping element  14  of the balloon shaping apparatus  10  (e.g., wrapped around the balloon shaping element  14 , etc.). 
     Turning now to  FIGS. 6-18 , an embodiment of a method for shaping an elongate balloon  30  is depicted and described. In the illustrated embodiment, an embodiment of balloon shaping apparatus  10  that may be used to form elongate balloons  30  into circular, oval and/or helical, or twisted, shapes is used. 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , a balloon artist  28  may secure a closed end  32  of an uninflated elongate balloon  30  (e.g., a tubular shaped latex 260Q balloon (0.25 inch wide×12 inches long), etc.) in place relate to a balloon shaping element  14 . In a specific embodiment, the closed end  32  of the elongate balloon  30  may be secured in place by way of a balloon retention element  20  of the balloon shaping apparatus  10 . 
     Next, as shown in  FIG. 7 , the balloon artist  28  may pull the elongate balloon  30  away from the balloon securing element  20 , thereby applying a tensile load to the elongate balloon  30 . The magnitude of the tensile load (if any) applied to the elongate balloon  30  may define, at least in part, the dimensions of features subsequently formed into the elongate balloon  30 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , with the closed end  32  of the uninflated elongate balloon  30  or a portion of the uninflated elongate balloon adjacent to the closed end  32  secured in place relative to the balloon shaping apparatus  10  (e.g., with a balloon securing element  20 , etc.), the balloon artist  28  may positioned at least a portion of the uninflated elongate balloon  30  around the balloon shaping element  14 . In some embodiments, at least a portion of the elongate balloon  30  may be wrapped at least partially around the balloon shaping element  14 . In the nonlimiting embodiment depicted by  FIGS. 8 and 9 , such wrapping may be effected in an upward helical fashion, until an open end  34  of the elongate balloon  30  is positioned close to the balloon shaping element  14 , as shown in  FIG. 10 . 
     Once the elongate balloon  30  has been positioned as desired against the balloon shaping element  14 , and while at least a portion of the elongate balloon  30  remains positioned against or at least partially wrapped around the balloon shaping element  14 , the balloon artist  28  may begin inflating (i.e., introducing air, gas, a gas mixture, etc., into) at least a portion of the elongate balloon  30 , as shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 . Inflation may comprise partial inflation of at least a portion of the elongate balloon  30  or full inflation (e.g., to about a maximum desired inflated diameter) at least a portion of the elongate balloon  30 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 11 , inflation of the elongate balloon  30  may include insertion of a portion (e.g., a needle or other male member, a nozzle, etc.) of an inflation apparatus  38  (e.g., a hand-held balloon pump, a pressurized gas cylinder and pressure hose, etc.) into a neck at the open end  34  of the elongate balloon  30 . With the inflation apparatus  38  in place, air, gas or a mixture of gases may be introduced into the elongate balloon  30 .  FIGS. 12-17  depict various degrees of inflation of an elongate balloon  30  as the elongate balloon  30  remains positioned at least partially against two or more surfaces of the balloon inflation element  14 . 
     When the elongate balloon  30  has been inflated in the desired manner, the artist  28  then inflation apparatus  38  may be uncoupled or disconnected from the open end  34  of the elongate balloon  30 . The open end  34  of the elongate balloon  30  may then be sealed (e.g., tied, crimped, plugged, etc.). 
     While the elongate balloon  30  remains at least partially inflated, either before or after its open end  34  has been permanently closed, the elongate balloon  30  may be removed from the balloon shaping element  14 . In embodiments where the elongate balloon  30  is held at least partially in place by a balloon retention element  20 , removal of the balloon may include uncoupling of the elongate balloon  30  from the balloon retention element  20 . 
     During and after removal of the elongate balloon  30  from the balloon shaping element  14 , the balloon  30  may at least partially retain a shape imparted to it by the balloon shaping element  14 .  FIG. 18  illustrates an embodiment of elongate balloon  30  that has been formed and inflated in accordance with the disclosed method. Specifically,  FIG. 18  depicts a pair of elongate balloons  30  that have been formed into twisted, or helical, configurations. 
     A balloon shaping apparatus and/or method in accordance with teachings of this disclosure may be used to provide inflated elongate balloons having a variety of configurations. The resulting shaped elongated balloons may be used in a variety of settings and/or arrangements, some nonlimiting embodiments of which are depicted in  FIGS. 19-21 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 19 , elongated balloons  50 ,  51 ,  52  and  53  have been imparted with twisted, or helical, configurations, and have been arranged with helium-filled round balloons  54 ,  55 ,  56  and  57  so as to dangle from the round balloons  54 ,  55 ,  56  and  57 . In the embodiment illustrated by  FIG. 20 , elongate balloons  60  that have been imparted with twisted configurations are used to decorate a column of round balloons  62 .  FIG. 21  depicts and embodiment in which twisted balloons  66  decorate an arch-shaped assembly of round balloons  68 . Of course, many other decorative uses and embodiments may be employed using elongate balloons that have been shaped in accordance with teachings of this disclosure. 
     While the drawings only illustrated elongate balloons with round and helical shapes, it should be understood that balloon shaping apparatus that form elongate balloons and other types of shapeable balloons into other shapes or forms are also within the scopes of the disclosure and the claims. 
     Although the disclosed embodiments are representative of the disclosed apparatus and method, other embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art from a consideration of this specification and the appended claims, or from a practice of the embodiments of the disclosed subject matter. It is intended that the specification and embodiments therein be considered as merely providing nonlimiting examples, with the scope of each claim being defined and limited only by its plain language and equivalents thereto.