Patent Publication Number: US-7914360-B2

Title: Illuminated balloon

Description:
INDEX TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent No. 61/188,174, filed Aug. 13, 2008, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to illuminated balloons, and more specifically, to an illuminated balloon having a translucent design on at a least portion of the balloon wherein light directed into the interior of the balloon from an externally attached electric lamp effectively illuminates the design. 
     Unlike many articles of manufacture, balloons have survived the test of time and continue to grow in popularity for use as gifts, displays, souvenirs, decorations, and the like. For years, balloons have been a source of visual enjoyment and entertainment, especially for children. 
     While most balloons, including the latex and the Mylar® type balloons, are particularly attractive in the daylight or other bright, well-lit atmospheres, their attractiveness cannot be fully appreciated at night or in dark places such as at the circus, evening sporting events, or simply outdoors during the evening hours. Unfortunately, these are the circumstances during which balloons are most often sold and meant to be enjoyed by the consumer and surrounding public. 
     There exists a need in the present balloon art for an illuminated balloon assembly adapted for use with virtually any known type of balloon wherein a light source is attachable to an outer surface of the balloon so as to direct light through an interior chamber thereof, illuminating the balloon and any design printed thereon. The light of the present balloon is positioned between a patch and the outer surface of the balloon. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is an illuminated display assembly, comprising: 
     a balloon having an inner surface and an outer surface defining a generally inflatable body and a neck portion integrally formed therewith, said inflatable body disposed in air tight, sealed relation about a hollow interior gas chamber, 
     an electric lamp assembly attached to a patch; 
     said patch having a first side and a second side; 
     said second side of said patch having said electric lamp assembly attached thereto; 
     said second side of said patch further having adhesive disposed thereon, said adhesive for securing said patch to said outer surface of an inflated balloon; 
     whereby said electrical light assembly comprises an electrical light positioned on said second side of said patch such that said light is disposed between said patch and said outer surface of said inflated balloon; 
     said patch fixedly attached with adhesive to an outer surface of said inflatable body and structured and disposed to direct light into said interior gas chamber and at least partially out through said inflatable body, thereby effectively illuminating said balloon; and 
     an electrical power supply, preferably comprising at least one battery. The battery may be any type of battery as is known. 
     The patch is made of any acceptable material that is substantially flexible including, but not limited to cloth, paper, polymers, combinations thereof, and the like. 
     The light is any light that produces illumination with minimal amount of heat generated. These include any electric component lamp device such as light emitting diodes (LED), electroluminescent wire (EL wire), plasma lights, organic light-emitting diodes (OLED), polymer light-emitting diodes (PLED), combinations thereof, and the like. 
     The assembly has an electrical power supply that includes a battery holder structured and arranged with a moveable tab accessible from the first side of said patch, whereby said moveable tab turns on and off said light. Preferably the light of the light assembly is wirelessly connected to the battery. 
     The assembly has a light supported by a light holder. The light on the light holder has an angular orientation relative to the patch such that said light holder forms an angle between 0°-60° relative to the inner surface of said patch. In a preferred embodiment, the angular orientation is about 45°. 
     The light is positioned between the patch and the outer surface of the balloon and is at least partially enveloped by the outer surface of the balloon. 
     The present invention is a fully integrated apparatus in a single patch that simply affixes to a balloon and illuminates the balloon when activated. 
     Additionally contemplated is a method of producing an enveloped illuminated balloon effect comprising the steps of: 
     a. providing an assembly according to claim  1 ; 
     b. moving said tab to turn on said light; 
     c. creating an enveloped illuminating effect on said balloon by virtue of said light, positioned between the patch and the outer surface of the balloon, being at least partially enveloped by the outer surface of the balloon. 
     A unique effect is produced from the light, held between the patch and the outer balloon surface. The present invention creates the “enveloped luminescent balloon effect.” When the outer surface of the balloon at least partially envelopes the light, the light rays are altered and the enveloped luminescent balloon effect is created. It is a unique light patter in which light is scattered by virtue of a light being partially covered by the outer balloon surface and the light enveloped light passing through the balloon. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side cross section view of the illuminated balloon assembly. 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of the illuminated balloon assembly. 
         FIG. 3  is a side view cross section of the light assembly of the present invention with light positioned between a patch and the outer surface of a balloon. 
         FIG. 4  is the light assembly. 
         FIG. 5  is a plan view of the first side of the patch. 
         FIG. 6  is a plan view of the second side of the patch. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The present invention is an illuminated balloon assembly  10 . A balloon  12  includes an outer surface  14  and an inner surface  16 . Patch  18  has a first side  44  and second side  46 . A light assembly  40  is attached to second side  46  of patch  18 . Assembly  40  includes a tab  21  with a first tab end  20  and a second tab end  22 . Second tab end  22  is initially positioned between batteries  24  and electrical contact  26 . Electrical contact  26  is on the inner side  42  of circuit board  28 . Batteries  24  are urged towards contact  26  by battery encasement strap  34  that is connected both to circuit board  28  and battery encasement back  36 . Compression tape  52  extends over battery encasement back  36  and secures to second side  46  of patch  18 . Second side  46  has adhesive  48  disposed thereon. Circuit board  28  has light support arm  30  rigidly attached thereto. Light support arm  30  supports light  32  on the end of light support arm  30  that is opposite circuit board  28 . 
     Assembly  10  includes light assembly patch  18 . Patch  18  is attached to the outer surface  14  of balloon  12 . Patch  18  has adhesive  48  disposed on second side  46  of patch  16 . Second side  46  also has circuit board  28  attached thereto. In a preferred embodiment, second side  46  is formed of a reflective material. The securing of patch  16  to outer surface  14  of balloon  12  results in light  32  on light support arm  30  being pressed into the outer surface  14  of inflated balloon  12 . Light support arm  30  has an angular orientation “x” relative to the surface of a substantially planer circuit board  28 , as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . Light support arm  30  is preferably oriented such that angle “x” is between about 0°-60°. In a preferred embodiment, the angular orientation of angle “x” is about 45°. The angular orientation is sufficient to urge light support arm  30  and light  32  such that each of light support arm  30  and light  32  press into the outer surface  14  of inflated balloon  12 . The pressing of light support arm  30  and light  32  into outer surface  14  of inflated balloon  12  produces a lighted balloon effect that is unique over each of lights on the outer surface or lights contained on the interior of an inflated balloon. Outer surface  14  contacts and partially envelopes light  32  and produces a unique illuminated balloon effect that does not occur with either lights placed with an inflated balloon or lights placed on the outside of an inflated balloon. 
     Patch  18  is attached to balloon  12 , such that tab  21  is accessible from second side  46  of patch  16 . First end  20  of tab  21  extends outward from slot  50  of patch  18 . Tab  18  is slidably movable by grasping first end  20  and moving tab  21 . Movement of tab  21  ultimately moves second end  22  of tab  21 . Second end  22  of tab  21  is positioned between batteries  24  and contact  26  of circuit board  28 . In an extended orientation, end  20  is moved outward from patch  18  and second end  22  is moved from position between batteries  24  and connector  26 . Thus, when second end  22  is moved from this position, batteries  24  are in direct contact with contact  26 . The direct contact between batteries  24  and contact  26  initiates flow of electricity and illuminates light  32 . In order to cease illumination of light  32 , first end  20  of tab  21  is pushed inward towards balloon  12 . Second end  22  of tab  21  is moved and positioned between batteries  24  and contact  26  of circuit board  28 . The positioning of second end  22  of tab  18  between batteries  24  and contact  26  interrupts the flow of electricity to circuit board  28  and light  32  ceases to illuminate. Thus, movement of the tab  21  turns light  32  on and off. 
     While the invention has been described in its preferred form or embodiment with some degree of particularity, it is understood that this description has been given only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction, fabrication, and use, including the combination and arrangement of parts, may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.