Patent Publication Number: US-7708616-B2

Title: Balloon display systems

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention generally relates to balloons, especially non-latex, foil balloons that are inflated with air and used in display systems as centerpieces and decorations for adornment purposes. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   Balloons are popular decorations and are widely sold, either collapsed or inflated, in two widely available forms, namely those made of a stretchable latex, and those made of non-stretchable, metallized films commonly known as “foil” balloons. Foil balloons are usually inflated with helium or air introduced into a relatively long neck or stem, and then sealed, for example, by tying the neck off with a tether, by clipping or crimping the neck, by heat sealing the neck closed, or by using a self-sealing valve. The sealed, inflated balloon is often supported or held by a funnel-shaped plastic cup provided at one end of a stick or plastic shaft, or is connected to a holder in order to attract attention. Patents representative of this art are exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 4,661,081; No. 4,798,554; No. 5,306,194; No. 2,882,645; No. 5,036,985; No. 4,881,916; No. D-376,101; No. 3,892,081; and No. 5,989,093. 
   Experience has shown, however, that inflating foil balloons of large size, typically about eighteen inches and larger in diameter, with helium is not altogether satisfactory, because many retailers are unwilling to handle helium and to devote the labor required to fill the balloons. Some municipalities restrict sales of helium balloons over concern of damage to overhead power lines and communication systems. Even when such large balloons are filled with air, it is difficult to readily secure and hold the inflated balloon on the above-described funnel-shaped cup on a stick, not to mention the unaesthetic appearance of such a holder, or its restriction to hand-held usage. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Objects of the Invention 
   Accordingly, it is a general object of this invention to hold a balloon, especially an air-filled, foil balloon of large size, for use in displays as centerpieces and decorations. 
   More particularly, it is an object of the present invention to provide new uses for foil balloons. 
   Still another object of the present invention is to provide an inexpensive, easy to manufacture and assemble, balloon display system. 
   FEATURES OF THE INVENTION 
   In keeping with the above objects and others which will become apparent hereinafter, one feature of the present invention resides, briefly stated, in a balloon display system including a balloon having a neck, and a gas-admitting inlet on the neck for enabling the balloon in a deflated state to be inflated with a gas, for example, air or helium, to an inflated state. A tube is connected to the neck in the deflated state. The tube bounds an interior through which the neck extends. The tube has an open end for exposing the inlet for enabling inflation to the inflated state. The exposed inlet is also useful for reinflating the balloon in case there is an escape of the gas therefrom. 
   Hence, rather than connecting the balloon to a hand-held, funnel-shaped, stick-mounted cup, the balloon of this invention is connected to a tube. Advantageously, the tube is a hollow cylinder having inner and outer circumferential walls. In one embodiment, the tube is slidably inserted with frictional engagement into an upper, open tubular end portion of a container. In another embodiment, the tube is slidably mounted with frictional engagement around an upper cylindrical portion of a container. 
   As previously mentioned, the deflated balloon is connected to the tube. This enables a retailer to sell the deflated balloon and connected tube as a preassembled unit, for example, as part of a kit. This promotes impulse buying because a consumer need not be bothered with connecting the balloon to a connector, or with returning to the retailer to inflate the balloon, or with inflating the balloon days or weeks before the balloon is to be used. Instead, the exposed inlet is always ready to admit the gas. For example, an elongated, hollow conduit such as a straw is insertable through the open end of the tube and into the exposed inlet for conducting the gas, such as air blown in by a user, into the balloon. The straw is removable, and the escape of gas from the balloon is resisted by a self-sealing valve provided within the balloon. 
   Preferably, the neck of the deflated balloon is pulled taut through the interior of the tube, and the end portion of the neck, which extends beyond the tube, is connected, preferably by an adhesive, to the outer circumferential wall of the tube. The neck end portion could also be captured and held in a slit in the tube. 
   The container has an opaque or a light-transmissive sidewall, and preferably contains a product, for example, candy. The container may also contain non-edible items, such as a sound generator that, when activated, plays a recorded song, for example. The container may also contain a motor for turning the tube and the balloon relative to the container, as well as beverages, non-alcoholic or alcoholic. Decorative elements may also be mounted on the tube for additional ornamentation. 
   Thus, in accordance with one aspect of this invention, the tube connected to the balloon serves as a convenient balloon holder, which does not interfere with inflating the balloon. The tube can easily be slipped over the top of a liquor or wine bottle, thereby making an attractive gift presentation. The tube can also be slid into the top of a tubular container, thereby making an attractive centerpiece. 
   The novel features which are considered as characteristic of the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is an exploded, perspective view of a straw for insertion into an inlet of a deflated balloon connected to a tube in accordance with this invention, the balloon being cut-away to show a self-sealing valve therein; 
       FIG. 2  is a broken-away elevational view of an inflated balloon connected to the tube of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a broken-away, perspective view depicting the removal of the straw from the inlet of the inflated balloon of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a broken-away, sectional view of the inflated balloon and tube of  FIG. 2  mounted on the top of an upright container; 
       FIG. 5  is a broken-away, enlarged sectional view taken on line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 4 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a broken-away, elevational view of an inflated balloon connected to a split tube and mounted on the top of a broken-away bottle; 
       FIG. 7  is an enlarged, sectional view taken on line  7 - 7  of  FIG. 6 ; 
       FIG. 8  is a view analogous to  FIG. 4 , with a decorative element and a support base, especially useful as a centerpiece; 
       FIG. 9  is a view analogous to  FIG. 2 , but of another embodiment; 
       FIG. 10  is a view analogous to  FIG. 4 , with a motor for turning the balloon; and 
       FIG. 11  is a view analogous to  FIG. 8 , but with a tether for connecting the balloon. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Referring now to the drawings, reference numeral  10  identifies a combination of a pre-assembled unit  12  comprised of a deflated balloon  14  connected to a tube  16 , and a hollow elongated conduit, for example, a straw  18  used, as described below, to inflate the balloon  14 . The balloon  14  is preferably made of foil and includes a pair of juxtaposed, metallized films  20 ,  22 , preferably of circular shape, peripherally sealed to bound an interior. Each film  20 ,  22  has integral stems  24 ,  26  (see  FIG. 4 ) together constituting an elongated neck  28  on which a gas-admitting inlet  30  is formed. Shapes, other than circular for the films, can also be employed. Although the balloon  14  may have any diameter, it is preferred that the balloon diameter be eighteen inches or larger. 
   A pair of juxtaposed, elongated valve strips  32 ,  34  (see  FIG. 4 ) is sealed along their longitudinal edges to bound a passage in gaseous communication with the inlet  30 . The strips  32 ,  34  are generally planar, are in surface area contact with each other, and are captured between the films  20 ,  22  within the balloon. The valve strips  32 ,  34  function as a self-sealing valve, as described below. 
   The tube  16  is a hollow cylinder having inner and outer circumferential walls, as well as opposite, open axial ends. The tube  16  can be made of any material, cardboard being preferred. The unit  12  is pre-assembled by passing the neck  28  of the deflated balloon through at least one of the open axial ends of the tube, and connecting the neck  28  to the tube. This can be accomplished in various ways. For example, as shown in  FIGS. 1-5 , the neck  28  is pulled through the opposite open axial end of the tube through the hollow interior thereof, and the end region  36  of the neck  28 , which extends beyond the tube, is folded and secured to the outer circumferential wall of the tube, preferably with an adhesive. As shown in  FIG. 2 , an adhesive tape  38  is applied over the neck end region  36  and the outer circumferential wall of the tube  16 . Alternatively, a double-sided adhesive tape could be applied between the outer wall of the tube and the neck end region. An adhesive layer could also be pre-applied on at least one of the outer tube wall and the neck end region, preferably the adhesive layer being covered by a peelable protective cover. 
   In a preferred embodiment, after the neck is secured to the tube, the inlet  30  is exposed. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the straw  18  is easily inserted into the exposed inlet and into the passage between the valve strips  32 ,  34 . Air can be blown, by mouth, into the straw and through the valve strips  32 ,  34  into the interior of the balloon to inflate the same. Once the balloon is inflated, the straw is easily removed, as shown in  FIG. 3 , from the exposed inlet  30 . The air pressure within the inflated balloon presses the valve strips  32 ,  34  together into planar sealing contact, thereby resisting escape of the gas from the inflated balloon. Should gas, however, escape, then the straw may be reintroduced into the exposed inlet through the valve strips  32 ,  34  into the interior of the balloon to reinflate the same. 
   Although the use of a self-sealing valve is preferred, the balloon can, for example, be inflated first, then heat-sealed, and thereafter connected to the tube.  FIG. 9  depicts a view analogous to  FIG. 2 , wherein the neck end region  36  is wedged and held inside a slit  40  formed in the tube  16  to form the pre-assembled unit. In the embodiment of  FIG. 9 , the exposed inlet  30  can be situated inside or outside the tube and, as shown, is outside the tube. The neck end region  36  can be left to hang free, or can be adhesively secured to the outer circumferential wall thereof. 
   The pre-assembled unit  12  is mounted on a container to constitute a balloon display system. As shown in  FIG. 4 , the container  42  is cylindrical and has an open top  44  and a closed bottom  46 . The tube  16  is slidably inserted into the open top  44  and frictionally retained therein. The sidewall of the container  42  may be light-transmissive or opaque as shown. The container may hold a product, for example edible items such as candies or jellybeans, or non-edible items such as toys. 
   In  FIG. 4 , the container  42  contains a music or sound module  50 , analogous to that described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,482,065 and No. 6,821,183. The module  50  is powered by a battery and includes a microchip for actuating a speaker  48 . The module  50  is mounted on the closed bottom  46 , and the sound generated by the module is amplified and resonated by the container and travels through the tube  16 , thereby allowing the films of the bottom to vibrate and enhance the musical presentation, for example, a song memorializing a social event such as a birthday. Air holes  52  are used to allow the sound to be heard more loudly. Preferably, the closed bottom  46  is weighted to prevent the container from tipping. 
     FIG. 6  depicts a different type of container on which the pre-assembled unit is mounted. This container is a liquor or wine bottle  54  having a cylindrical top  56  closed by an inner cork or an outer cap. The tube  16  is slid over and around the closed top  56 , as shown in  FIG. 7 . Since different bottles  54  have cylindrical tops of different diameters, the tube  16  is advantageously provided with an axial slot  58  to permit the tube  16  to expand to accommodate such different sizes. The slotted tube  16  thus acts as a clip to resiliently hold the pre-assembled unit on the bottle  54 . 
     FIG. 8  is analogous to  FIG. 4  in that both depict the pre-assembled unit mounted on and within an open top of a cylindrical container  42 . In the case of  FIG. 8 , however, the sidewall of the container  42  is light-transmissive to enable the product therein, in this case, jellybeans  60 , to be seen. The jellybeans can be packed in a transparent bag (not illustrated). 
   Since the container  42  is relatively tall and narrow, a support base  62  is advantageously fitted on the bottom of the container to resist tipping. The support base  62  is preferably weighted. For increased adornment, a decorative element  64  is mounted on the container, especially in the region of the tube  16  to at least partially conceal the same from view. As shown, the decorative element  64  includes a sleeve  66  axially slidable lengthwise of the container  42  and frictionally retained in any selected position, for example, in the circumambient region of the tube  16 , and a multitude of decorative strips  68  each extending downwardly along a curved arc. Other decorative elements are contemplated. A plurality of the same or different decorative elements may be located at different heights above the base  62 . 
   Thus, in accordance with this invention, a foil balloon, even of large size, can be filled with air, helium or other gas, and, after being connected to a tube, can be easily and effectively used as centerpieces (e.g.,  FIG. 4  or  FIG. 8 ), or gifts (e.g.,  FIG. 6 ). This opens up many new retail outlets to foil balloons, and provides many new uses for such balloons. 
   The exposed inlet  30  can be used for the initial inflation of the balloon, or for subsequent refills. The balloon is preferably, but need not be, pre-attached to the tube. The balloon is preferably a foil balloon, but could also be a latex balloon. For additional adornment, light emitting diodes may be provided on the container. In a retail environment, a purchaser can select and mix and match among different balloons, containers, and products for placement inside the containers. The purchaser can buy a pre-assembled unit with a deflated balloon, and then inflate the balloon at home prior to the presentation of the item decorated by the balloon display system of this invention. 
   In still another variation as shown in  FIG. 11 , the balloon is inflated and tied off by a string, ribbon or like tether  70 , in which case, the tether is passed through at least one of the open ends of the container, and thereupon secured, for example, by being wedged between the container and the base  62 . A weight  74  can advantageously be positioned within the container. 
   Motion can be added to the system by using a low voltage, DC motor  72 , as shown in  FIG. 10 , or an AC motor, to cause the balloon and the tube to rotate relative to the container. 
   It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, also may find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above. 
   While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in balloon display systems, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention. 
   Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.