Patent Publication Number: US-10328354-B2

Title: Gift box with self-inflating balloon

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/464,207, filed Feb. 27, 2017, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     This disclosure relates generally to gift boxes, and more specifically to a gift box device with a self-inflating balloon. 
     Traditionally, greeting cards are sent through the mail to close friends or relatives for special occasions, such as birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, or other events that are cause for celebration. While the intentions of the person sending the greeting card are well-meaning and thoughtful, the experience of opening a greeting card can be lackluster for the person receiving it. Furthermore, once a card has been opened and read, the recipient is often unsure of whether to save the card or throw it away. Some existing greeting cards try to enhance the experience with three-dimensional pop-out features or by playing music when the card is opened. However, even with these added features, the card is still just a card that may sit on a shelf forgotten, or may be thrown away. 
     SUMMARY 
     Embodiments relate to a gift box with a self-inflating balloon. In one embodiment, the device includes a balloon, an inflation device, and a controller located within a housing. The balloon includes an opening, and the inflation device is in fluid communication with the opening of the balloon. The controller is coupled to the inflation device and is configured to activate the inflation device such that air flows into the balloon, inflating the balloon. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a gift box with a self-inflating balloon, according to an embodiment. 
         FIGS. 2A-2D  illustrate cross-sectional views of the gift box, according to an embodiment. 
         FIGS. 3A-3B  illustrate a valve and a cross-sectional view of the valve, according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a flowchart of a method for operating the gift box, according to an embodiment. 
         FIGS. 5A-5C  illustrate the gift box in an initial configuration, in an intermediate configuration, and in a final configuration, according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a housing of the gift box in an unfolded configuration, according to an embodiment. 
     
    
    
     The figures depict embodiments of the present disclosure for purposes of illustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles, or benefits touted, of the disclosure described herein. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     One embodiment includes a gift box device that is designed to be shipped to a recipient through the mail. The recipient may have a special occasion coming up, such as a birthday, wedding, anniversary, graduation, or any other cause for celebration, or the box may be sent to the recipient as a humorous “gag” gift or as a simple “thinking of you.” A lid of the box is configured to be opened and may display a personalized message relating to a special occasion of the recipient. The box includes a balloon, which may be hidden from view in a compartment of the box. The box includes a switch that is configured to be actuated by the recipient. When the switch is actuated, an inflation device is activated and begins to inflate the balloon, which emerges from the compartment of the box. A vibrating motor inside the box may synchronously cause the box to vibrate. After a pre-determined amount of time, the inflation device and motor deactivate, and a valve seals the air inside the balloon. Once the balloon is inflated, the gift box and balloon may be displayed for the recipient. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a gift box  100  with a self-inflating balloon  105 , according to an embodiment. In the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , the gift box  100  includes the balloon  105 , a housing  110 , a switch  115 , and a lid (shown in  FIGS. 4A-4B ). The gift box  100  is illustrated in a final configuration, where the lid is in an open position and the balloon  105  is in an inflated state. While the balloon  105  is shown in a fully inflated state, the degree to which the balloon  105  is inflated may vary based on a type of the balloon or a target capacity. 
     The balloon  105  is a flexible bag designed to be inflated with a fluid, which may be a liquid or a gas. The balloon  105  may be in a deflated state when the gift box  100  is shipped to the recipient, and the balloon  105  may be inflated when the recipient receives the gift box  100 . The balloon  105  includes an opening (not shown) that is coupled to an inflation device that inflates the balloon, which is discussed in further detail with regard to  FIGS. 2-3 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the balloon  105  may be composed of latex, Mylar nylon, foil, or similar types of material. While the balloon  105  is illustrated as a circular balloon, the balloon  105  may come in a variety of different shapes and sizes. For example, the design of the balloon  105  may correspond to the special occasion (e.g., heart-shaped, birthday cake-shaped, one or more numbers, a graduation cap, etc.). The balloon  105  may also include a message appropriate for the special occasion, such as “Happy Birthday!” or “Congratulations!” 
     The housing  110  is a box that houses the balloon  105  and other internal components of the gift box  100 . The housing  110  includes a lid (shown in  FIGS. 2A-2B ) that may seal the housing  110  such that the housing  110  can be shipped through the mail. Shipping may occur via a shipping or mailing service (e.g., FedEx, UPS, postal service), a courier service, or other similar delivery services. In this configuration, the gift box  100  is designed ready-to-ship and may not need additional shipping or packaging materials. The housing  110  may be composed of cardboard, corrugated cardboard, foam board, or other suitable materials. 
     The switch  115  activates an inflation device inside the housing  110 , which inflates the balloon  105 . The switch  115  may be a button, a switch, a pull tab, a pull string, or a similar trigger mechanism designed to be actuated by the recipient. In the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , the switch  115  is positioned inside the housing  110  and is accessible to the recipient when the lid of the housing  110  is in an open position. When actuated, the switch  115  activates the inflation device and, in some embodiments, may synchronously activate one or more special effects of the gift box  100  (e.g., lights, music, shaking, etc.). In some embodiments, opening the lid of the housing  110  or breaking the seal between the lid and the housing  110  may act as the trigger mechanism such that the recipient does not actuate a switch to activate the inflation device and/or special effects. 
       FIGS. 2A-2D  illustrate cross-sectional views of the gift box  100 , according to an embodiment.  FIG. 2A  is a left side view  200  of the gift box  100  (front side is facing right) and illustrates three cross-sections, A-A, B-B, and C-C, that are discussed with regards to  FIGS. 2B-2D . 
       FIG. 2B  illustrates a cross-sectional view  205  of the gift box  100 . The cross-sectional view  205  shown is the cross-section A-A indicated in  FIG. 2A  that is taken through approximately the middle of the gift box  100 .  FIG. 2B  illustrates the switch  115  and an inflation device  210  that couples to the balloon  105  (not shown) via a valve  215 . As described with regards to  FIG. 1 , the switch  115  activates the inflation device  210 . Each of these components may be mounted inside the housing  110 . 
     The inflation device  210  inflates the balloon. The inflation device  210  couples to an opening of the balloon such that airflow from the inflation device  210  flows into the opening of the balloon and inflates the balloon. In the embodiment of  FIG. 2B , the inflation device  210  is an electric air pump. The electric air pump fills the balloon with enough air to inflate the balloon at a target flow rate and pressure. For example, the electric air pump may inflate the balloon within a range of approximately 5 seconds to 20 seconds, such that a recipient of the gift box  100  may enjoy watching the balloon emerge out of the gift box  100  as it inflates. The type of electric air pump may be selected based on its specifications, such as product weight, dimensions, voltage ratings, current ratings, and resistance ratings. In the embodiment of  FIG. 2B , the inflation device  210  operates using a 12-volt direct current power source. 
     In alternate embodiments, the inflation device  210  may be a source of compressed gas. For example, the inflation device  210  may be one or more compressed CO 2  canisters that fill the balloon  105  with CO 2 . Commercially available CO 2  canisters are typically stored at around 800 pounds per square inch (psi), whereas a balloon may rupture approximately between 0.25 psi to 0.5 psi. Thus, a regulating valve may be used in conjunction with the CO 2  canisters to regulate the pressure of the balloon; the regulating valve may control the amount of CO 2  delivered to the balloon as well as vent off any excess CO 2  once the balloon is filled to a target capacity. The regulating valve may be designed to regulate the speed at which the CO 2  enters the balloon. If the CO 2  canisters are rapidly emptied into the balloon, the CO 2  gas is rapidly depressurizing and thus becomes cold at standard room pressure. As a result, the CO 2  gas inside the balloon may near freezing temperatures and cause the material of the balloon to become brittle, potentially causing the balloon to pop upon inflating. 
     In one embodiment, the regulating valve includes a first end that couples to the one or more CO 2  canisters and a second end that couples to the balloon. The regulating valve may be designed such that the inlet pressure at the first end (800 psi) drops to a target pressure (approximately 0.25 psi) due to the size of the openings at each end and the length of the regulating valve. The opening at the first end may be small to restrict the flow rate of the CO 2  at the first end, and the pressure further drops along the length of the regulating valve, thus achieving the target pressure at the opening of the balloon. 
     In addition, the regulating valve may be designed to vent excess CO 2  to the atmosphere once the balloon is sufficiently inflated. Once the balloon is inflated, the flow rate through the regulating valve may decrease or approach zero, and the pressure inside the regulating valve may subsequently increase. The regulating valve may include a vent that opens once the pressure reaches or exceeds a threshold release pressure. In one embodiment, the vent includes a plunger and a spring that holds the plunger in a sealed position such that the vent of the regulating valve is closed. Once the threshold release pressure is reached or exceeded, the pressure may displace the plunger from its sealed position and compress the spring, thereby opening the vent to allow CO 2  to release. In this configuration, the higher the pressure above the threshold release pressure, the more the plunger will be displaced. The vent may be located along the length of the regulating valve and may be positioned near the first end closer to the CO 2  canister(s). This allows there to be a gradient of pressure between the vent and the balloon such that rapid pressure increases due to a decreased flow rate will open the vent before hitting the balloon (and potentially popping it). 
     In some instances, more than one compressed gas canister may be needed to fill the balloon to the target capacity. In these instances, an accumulator device, which is a pressure storage device that accepts, stores, and releases pressure as needed, may be used to couple the compressed gas canisters to the balloon. An accumulator device may couple one or more compressed gas canisters together such that the compressed gas canisters act as a single unit that delivers compressed gas to the balloon. The accumulator device may include a valve or nipple feature that couples to the opening of the balloon. The compressed gas canisters are installed into the accumulator device such that each cylinder is sealed to the accumulator device before the compressed gas canisters are punctured and pressure is allowed to enter the accumulator device. If any compressed gas canister is not sealed to the accumulator device before the compressed gas canisters are punctured, then compressed gas may leak out of the accumulator device and each compressed gas canister would be replaced. 
     If the gift box  100  is designed to be shipped through the mail, the configuration of the compressed gas canisters, the regulating valve, and/or the accumulator device may be designed to comply with federal shipping regulations. For example, puncturing the compressed gas containers before shipping may void the shipping regulations and require the gift box  100  to be recertified before the gift box  100  can be shipped, which may be a costly and time-consuming practice. An additional challenge with shipping compressed gas is that extra care must be taken to ensure that compressed gas will not leak out of its canister. Each canister, valve, and/or accumulator device must be of sufficient strength and robustness such that no leakage can occur while in transit. As such, an electric air pump as the inflation device  210  may allow the gift box  100  to be manufactured and shipped in a more cost-effective and convenient manner. 
     The valve  215  couples the inflation device  210  and the balloon. The valve  215  has a first end that may be inserted into the opening of the balloon and a second end that may be inserted into a port on the inflation device  210  (or vice versa, where the port may be inserted into the second end). In the embodiment of  FIG. 2B , the valve  215  may be a one-way valve that allows airflow from the inflation device  210  into the balloon and prevents airflow out of the balloon  105 , thus sealing the balloon. The valve  215  will be discussed in further detail with regards to  FIGS. 3A-3B . 
       FIG. 2C  illustrates a cross-sectional view  220  of the gift box  100 . The cross-sectional view  220  shown is the cross-section B-B indicated in  FIG. 2A  that is taken through approximately near a left side of the gift box  100 .  FIG. 2C  illustrates a motor  225  that may be mounted inside the housing  110 . In the embodiment of  FIG. 2C , the motor  225  is coupled to a counterweight via a rotor of the motor  225  such that the motor  225  causes the counterweight to rotate relative to the motor  225 . In this configuration, the motor  225  remains stationary relative to the gift box  100  while the counterweight rotates, thereby causing the gift box  100  to shake. The counterweight enables the effect of the vibration from the motor  225  to be modified, and properties of the counterweight, such as geometry, weight, and orientation relative to the motor  225 , may be modified to further customize the vibration of the gift box  100 . In some embodiments, the switch  115  synchronously activates the motor  225  and the inflation device  210  such that the gift box  100  shakes as the balloon inflates. Similarly, the motor  225  and the inflation device  210  may be deactivated synchronously. In the embodiment of  FIG. 2C , the motor  225  is a direct current (DC) motor, but any suitable motor may be used to generate vibrations of the gift box  100 . 
       FIG. 2D  illustrates a cross-sectional view  230  of the gift box  100 . The cross-sectional view  230  shown is the cross-section C-C indicated in  FIG. 2A  that is taken through approximately near the right side of the gift box  100 .  FIG. 2D  illustrates the switch  115 , a portion of the inflation device  210 , the valve  215 , a circuit board  235 , and a power source  240 . Each of these components may be mounted inside the housing  110 . 
     The circuit board  235  controls the operation of the gift box  100 . The circuit board  235  electrically connects the electronic components of the gift box  100 , such as the switch  115 , the inflation device  210 , the motor  225  (shown in  FIG. 2C ), and the power source  240 . In the embodiment of  FIG. 2D , the circuit board  235  is a printed circuit board that has a microcontroller with firmware to dictate its operation. The inputs to the circuit board  235  include the switch  115  and the power source  240 , while the outputs of the circuit board  235  are the inflation device  210  and motor  225 . The outputs may include different types of power controllers, such as metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFET) or insulated-gate bipolar transistors (IGBT). Generally, the electronic components are soldered to the circuit board  235  to both electrically and mechanically couple them to it. 
     The circuit board  235  controls the operation of the inflation device  210 . For example, the circuit board  235  controls the activation and deactivation of the inflation device  210 . In the embodiment of  FIG. 2D , the circuit board  235  detects that the switch  115  is actuated by the recipient, and, in response to detecting an actuation event of the switch  115 , the circuit board  235  activates the inflation device  210 . In some embodiments, the circuit board  235  may detect that a lid of the gift box  100  is in an open position (e.g., via a sensor), and, in response, the circuit board  235  activates the inflation device  210 . The circuit board  235  may be programmed to activate the inflation device  210  for a predetermined amount of time (e.g., between a range of approximately 5 seconds to 20 seconds or other suitable amount of time), such that the programmed amount of time enables the inflation device  210  to sufficiently inflate the balloon. In some embodiments, the circuit board  235  may be programmed such that if the circuit board  235  detects a second or subsequent actuation event of the switch  115 , the circuit board may activate the inflation device  210  for a predetermined amount of time that is shorter, such that the shorter programmed amount of time (e.g., between a range of approximately 1 seconds to 4 seconds or other suitable amount of time) enables the inflation device  210  to inflate the balloon to “top off” the balloon  105 . 
     In addition, the circuit board  235  controls the operation of the motor  225 . For example, the circuit board  235  controls the activation and deactivation of the motor  225 . As previously described, the circuit board  235  may detect an actuation event of the switch  115 . In response to detecting the actuation event of the switch  115 , the circuit board activates the motor  225  to cause the gift box  100  to shake. In the embodiment of  FIG. 2D , the circuit board  235  activates the motor  225  synchronously with the inflation device  210 . For example, the circuit board  235  may activate the motor  225  and the inflation device  210  at the same time, or the circuit board  235  may activate the motor  225  slightly before or after the inflation device  210 . In the embodiment of  FIG. 2D , the circuit board  235  delivers a varied voltage through pulse-density modulation to the motor  225  such that the motor  225  causes rotation of the counterweight in an inconsistent manner, thereby causing the gift box  100  to shake erratically. The circuit board  235  may be programmed to deliver other types of voltage patterns to modify the vibration of the gift box  100 . 
     The circuit board  235  may be programmed with a feature to ensure the inflation device  210  and/or the motor  225  are not unintentionally activated (for example, during shipping of the gift box  100 ). The circuit board  235  may have a programmable time-out for the switch  115  that is set for a predetermined amount of time (e.g., between a range of approximately 0 seconds to 0.75 seconds). In this configuration, if the circuit board  235  detects an actuation event of the switch  115  that falls within the time-out range, the circuit board  235  will not activate the inflation device  210  or the motor  225 . The circuit board  235  may activate the inflation device  210  and/or the motor  225  if the duration of the actuation event is longer than the threshold of the time-out range. In alternate embodiments, the circuit board  235  may be programmed such that the inflation device  210  and/or the motor  225  will not activate if the circuit board  235  detects that the lid is closed (e.g., via a sensor or cutoff switch). 
     The power source  240  powers the operation of the gift box  100 . In the embodiment of  FIG. 2D , the power source  240  is a pair of removable standard high-rate 9-volt batteries that are electrically coupled to the circuit board  235  via standard 9-volt terminal connectors. The 9-volt batteries are connected in series, creating an 18-volt direct current power source for the inflation device  210 . The gift box  100  may use 2-4 batteries to power the inflation device  210 . The number and types of batteries may vary (different voltages, different configurations such as in series or in parallel, high energy, long lasting, etc.) depending on the size of the balloon to be inflated, the power requirements of the inflation device  210 , the motor  225 , and the predetermined fill rate and fill time for the balloon  105 . Power controllers may also be used to appropriately couple the electronic components based on the specifications of each component. In the embodiment of  FIG. 2 , the inflation device  210  operates using a 12-volt direct current power source. Since the power source  240  is powering the inflation device  210  under a high load, the voltage of the power source  240  may beneficially decrease from 18-volts (to approximately 8.5-volts to 12-volts) when under load due to the resistance of the batteries. Other types of batteries may have less of a voltage drop, causing the batteries to overpower the inflation device  210 . The 9-volt batteries are low-cost and readily available and have an appropriate voltage drop and high level of safety. 
       FIGS. 3A-3B  illustrate a valve  215  and a cross-sectional view  300  of the valve  215 , according to an embodiment. As previously described, the valve  215  couples an inflation device and a balloon. The inflation device may be an embodiment of inflation device  210 , and the balloon may be an embodiment of balloon  105 . The valve  215  has a first end  305  that may be inserted into the opening of the balloon and a second end  310  that may be inserted into a port on the inflation device (or vice versa, where the port may be inserted into the second end). The first end  305  includes a sealing surface  315  that mates with an inside surface of the balloon through the opening of the balloon. The sealing surface  315  may include an adhesive to adhere to the balloon or may be a friction fit or tapered friction fit to secure the balloon. A securing mechanism, such as a clamp, band, or other suitable component, may wrap around an outside surface of the balloon to secure the balloon at the sealing surface  315 . 
     In the embodiment of  FIGS. 3A-3B , the valve  215  is a one-way valve that allows airflow from the inflation device into the balloon and prevents airflow out of the balloon, thus sealing the balloon. The cross-sectional view  300  in  FIG. 3B  illustrates the internal components of the valve  215 , which includes a channel  320 , a plunger  325 , and a spring  330 . The cross-sectional view  300  also shows the first end  305  secured to the second end  310  via a mating surface  335 . In the embodiment of  FIG. 3B , the mating surface  335  is a threaded interface, but the mating surface  335  may be adhered or designed as a compression fit, friction fit, or other suitable securing mechanism in other embodiments. In this configuration, the first end  305 , the second  310 , the plunger  325 , and the spring  330  may be assembled. 
     The channel  320  is a pathway between the inflation device and the balloon for air to flow through. In the embodiment of  FIG. 3B , the channel  320  extends from an opening of the first end  305  to an opening of the second end  310 . In this configuration, the balloon coupled at the first end  305  is in fluid communication with the inflation device coupled at the second end  310  such that airflow from the inflation device flows into the balloon. The channel  320  may include a structure at the first end  305  that serves as an alignment guide  340  for the plunger  325 . The alignment guide  340  may extend across the diameter of the channel  320  and include a hole through its center while maintaining the open passageway of the channel  320  on the surrounding sides of the alignment guide  340 . 
     The plunger  325  controls the airflow through the channel  320 . In the embodiment of  FIG. 3B , the valve  215  is a one-directional valve where the plunger  325  allows airflow into the balloon and prevents airflow out of the balloon. The plunger  325  includes a piston  345  and a sealing surface  350 . The piston  345  is a protrusion that slides through the alignment guide  340 . In the embodiment of  FIG. 3B , the piston  345  is a slip fit through the alignment guide  340  and is cylindrically-shaped, which enables the piston  345  to rotate freely within the alignment guide  340 . In alternate embodiments, the piston  345  may have a different polygonal shape that prevents rotation of the plunger  325  relative to the valve  300 . The piston  345  aligns the plunger within the channel  320  and ensures that the plunger  325  is appropriately positioned such that the plunger  325  is able to seal the channel  320 . The length of the piston  345  is such that at least a portion of an end of the piston  345  remains within the alignment guide  340  even when the plunger  325  is in a sealed position (to prevent the piston  345  from falling out and becoming misaligned). The sealing surface  350  is designed to abut the channel  320  at the second end  310  to seal the channel  320 . The sealing surface  350  may be composed of a soft material (e.g., rubber, silicone, or other suitable plastic) that may be compressed when abutting the channel  320  to create a seal. 
     The spring  330  is a steel compression spring that is positioned on the piston  345 . The spring  330  forces the plunger  325  into a sealed position against the channel  320 , preventing airflow through the channel  320 . When the inflation device is activated, the pressure from the airflow generated pushes the plunger  325  up and compresses the spring  330 , allowing air to flow into the balloon. When the inflation device is deactivated, the spring  330  causes the plunger  325  to revert back to its sealed position, thereby sealing air inside the balloon. The spring rate of the spring  330  in relation to the surface area of the plunger  325  in relation to the pressure generated by the inflation device are balanced to accomplish the goals of allowing rapid inflation of the balloon while sealing the air in the balloon for extended periods of time. 
     The valve  215  and the plunger  325  may be composed of rigid materials (e.g., hard plastics or metals). In some embodiments, the valve  215  and the plunger  325  may be injection-molded. The sealing surface  350  may be over-molded onto the plunger  325  during the injection-molding process. Alternate embodiments of the valve  215  may include the plunger  325  and spring  330  in different configurations or orientations that achieve the same principle of sealing a portion of the channel  320  and allowing airflow in a single direction. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a flowchart of a method  400  for operating the gift box  100 , according to an embodiment. 
     A circuit board (e.g., circuit board  235 ) detects  405  an actuation event. The actuation event may be a button press, a switch flip, a pull of a pull string or a pull tab, or a similar trigger by a recipient of the gift box. In some embodiments, the actuation event may be an opening of a lid of the gift box or a breaking of a seal between the lid and a housing of the gift box. 
     The circuit board activates  410  an inflation device (e.g., inflation device  210 ). In some embodiments, the circuit board activates  410  the inflation device in response to determining that a duration of the actuation event is longer than a threshold amount of time. The inflation device is in fluid communication with a valve (e.g., valve  215 ) and a balloon (e.g., balloon  105 ). The activated inflation device creates an airflow that displaces a plunger inside the valve, thereby allowing the airflow into the balloon. The balloon begins to inflate. 
     The circuit board activates  415  a motor (e.g., motor  225 ). In some embodiments, the circuit board activates  415  the motor synchronously with the inflation device (e.g., at the same time, before, or after). The activated motor causes a counterweight to rotate relative to the motor and a housing of the gift box, thereby causing the gift box to shake. 
     The circuit board deactivates  420  the inflation device after a preprogrammed amount of time. The amount of time may be programmed such that the balloon may be sufficiently inflated. 
     The circuit board deactivates  425  the motor. In some embodiments, the circuit board deactivates  425  the motor synchronously with the inflation device (e.g., at the same time, before, or after). 
     The circuit board detects  430  a second actuation event. The second actuation event may be a button press, a switch flip, a pull of a pull string or a pull tab, or a similar trigger by a recipient of the gift box. 
     The circuit board activates  435  the inflation device. In some embodiments, the circuit board activates  435  the inflation device in response to determining that a duration of the second actuation event is longer than a threshold amount of time. The activated inflation device creates an airflow that displaces the plunger inside the valve, thereby allowing the airflow into the balloon. 
     The circuit board deactivates  440  the inflation device after a second preprogrammed amount of time. The amount of time may be programmed such that the balloon may be slightly re-inflated or “topped off.” In some embodiments, the second preprogrammed amount of time may be shorter in length than the first preprogrammed amount of time. 
     Various modifications or changes may be made to the method  400  illustrated in  FIG. 4 . For example, steps  430 ,  435 , and  440  may be omitted. Also, the sequence of steps  410 ,  415 ,  420 , and  425  may be modified. Steps  415  and  425  may be repeated in combination with steps  435  and  440 . 
       FIGS. 5A-5C  illustrate the gift box  100  in an initial configuration  500 , in an intermediate configuration  505 , and in a final configuration  510 , according to an embodiment. 
     The initial configuration  500  illustrates the gift box  100  with a lid  515  in a closed position. A portion of the lid  515  may be secured to the housing  110  with an adhesive, tape, a pull tab, a flap and pocket, or some combination thereof. In the initial configuration  500 , the gift box  100  may be ready-to-ship and may not need additional shipping or packaging materials. In some instances, the gift box  100  may be shipped to a distributor without a balloon or a power source and may be assembled at later stages. 
     The intermediate configuration  505  illustrates the gift box  100  with the lid  515  in an open position. The recipient may have broken the seal between the lid  515  and the housing  110 . In the intermediate configuration  505 , the balloon  105  may be inside a compartment  520  of the housing  110  such that the balloon  105  is hidden from the view of the recipient, while the recipient may be able to view and access the switch  115 . In some embodiments, a bottom surface of the lid  515  may display a personalized message for the recipient, or an insert card with a personalized message may be inside the gift box. The message may also include instructions for the recipient to actuate the switch  115 . The recipient may actuate the switch  115 , and the gift box  100  may begin to shake and the balloon  105  may begin to emerge from its compartment. The circuit board  235  (not shown) detects the actuation event of the switch  115  and subsequently activates the inflation device  210  (not shown) and the motor  225  (not shown). In embodiments in which the gift box  100  does not include a switch, the circuit board  235  may detect the lid  515  in an open position or that the seal of the gift box  100  is broken. 
     The final configuration  510  illustrates the gift box  100  with the balloon  105  sufficiently inflated. The circuit board  235  (not shown) may deactivate the inflation device  210  (not shown) and the motor  225  (not shown) after a predetermined amount of time such that the balloon  105  is inflated to a target capacity. The gift box  100  and the balloon  105  may remain displayed for the recipient. If the balloon  105  deflates over time, the recipient may actuate the switch  115 , which may slightly re-inflate the balloon  105 . The circuit board  235  detects the second actuation event of the switch  115  and subsequently activates the inflation device  210  for a short amount of time to “top off” the balloon  105 . In some embodiments, the circuit board  235  may synchronously activate the motor  225 . 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a housing  110  of the gift box  100  in an unfolded configuration, according to an embodiment. As previously described, the housing  110  is a box that houses the balloon  105  and the internal components of the gift box  100 . The housing  110  may be composed of cardboard, corrugated cardboard, foam board, or other suitable materials that are structurally sound and may withstand the shipping process. As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the housing  110  is a unitary piece of material that may be assembled into a folded configuration. Once folded, the housing  110  may be secured in the folded configuration using adhesive, tape, or interference fits (e.g., press fit, friction fit, or similar). The housing  110  includes several features that serve as mounts or placeholders for the internal components. For example, the housing  110  may include an inflation device mount, a power source mount, a power source cover, a circuit board mount, a switch mount, valve locating features, motor mounting features, and a securing mechanism for the gift box  100 . The housing  110  may additionally include air inlets that allow exterior air to reach an inlet of the inflation device. The housing  110  may also include a compartment to store a deflated balloon. 
     In some embodiments, the housing  110  may serve as the exterior of the gift box  100  and may include a separate interior piece that is designed to be inserted inside the housing  110 . The interior piece may include the mounts and/or placeholders for the internal components such that the interior piece and the interior components can be assembled together and be conveniently placed inside the housing  110 . The balloon  105  and the power source  240  may be added at later steps, such as right before the gift box  100  is shipped to a recipient. 
     Additional Configuration Information 
     The foregoing description of the embodiments of the disclosure has been presented for the purpose of illustration; it is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise forms disclosed. Persons skilled in the relevant art can appreciate that many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above disclosure. 
     Some portions of this description describe the embodiments of the disclosure in terms of algorithms and symbolic representations of operations on information. These algorithmic descriptions and representations are commonly used by those skilled in the data processing arts to convey the substance of their work effectively to others skilled in the art. These operations, while described functionally, computationally, or logically, are understood to be implemented by computer programs or equivalent electrical circuits, microcode, or the like. Furthermore, it has also proven convenient at times, to refer to these arrangements of operations as modules, without loss of generality. The described operations and their associated modules may be embodied in software, firmware, hardware, or any combinations thereof. 
     Any of the steps, operations, or processes described herein may be performed or implemented with one or more hardware or software modules, alone or in combination with other devices. In one embodiment, a software module is implemented with a computer program product comprising a computer-readable medium containing computer program code, which can be executed by a computer processor for performing any or all of the steps, operations, or processes described. 
     Embodiments of the disclosure may also relate to an apparatus for performing the operations herein. This apparatus may be specially constructed for the required purposes, and/or it may comprise a general-purpose computing device selectively activated or reconfigured by a computer program stored in the computer. Such a computer program may be stored in a non-transitory, tangible computer readable storage medium, or any type of media suitable for storing electronic instructions, which may be coupled to a computer system bus. Furthermore, any computing systems referred to in the specification may include a single processor or may be architectures employing multiple processor designs for increased computing capability. 
     Embodiments of the disclosure may also relate to a product that is produced by a computing process described herein. Such a product may comprise information resulting from a computing process, where the information is stored on a non-transitory, tangible computer readable storage medium and may include any embodiment of a computer program product or other data combination described herein. 
     Finally, the language used in the specification has been principally selected for readability and instructional purposes, and it may not have been selected to delineate or circumscribe the inventive subject matter. It is therefore intended that the scope of the disclosure be limited not by this detailed description, but rather by any claims that issue on an application based hereon. Accordingly, the disclosure of the embodiments is intended to be illustrative, but not limiting, of the scope of the disclosure, which is set forth in the following claims.