Abstract:
A balloon-tying device for assisting in tying a balloon is provided, the balloon having a filling end. The balloon-tying device comprises a base having a top surface and a bottom surface substantially opposite the top surface. A pair of spaced tying prongs is provided with each having a base end and a top end and the base ends of the tying prongs secured to the top surface of the base. A ridge extends from the top end of each of the tying prongs wherein the filling end of the balloon is wrappable around the tying prongs and fed between the tying prongs and wherein the ridges maintain the filling end of the balloon from inadvertently slipping from the tying prongs during the tying process.

Description:
The present application claims the benefit of priority of pending provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/270,628, filed on Jul. 10, 2009, entitled “Balloon-Tying Device”. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates generally to a balloon-tying device and, more particularly, the invention relates to a balloon-tying device for facilitating the tying of air-, water-, and helium-filled balloons. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     There is a prevalence of air-, helium-, and water-filled balloons in our society. In fact, balloons are used for everything from birthday parties to weddings to yard sales to water-balloon fights, and every one of those balloons must be laboriously tied by hand, which can be a frustrating and time-consuming process. Clearly, there is a need for an invention that makes the process quicker and easier. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present invention is a balloon-tying device for assisting in tying a balloon. The balloon has a filling end. The balloon-tying device comprises a base having a top surface and a bottom surface substantially opposite the top surface. A pair of spaced tying prongs is provided with each having a base end and a top end and the base ends of the tying prongs secured to the top surface of the base. A ridge extends from the top end of each of the tying prongs wherein the filling end of the balloon is wrappable around the tying prongs and fed between the tying prongs and wherein the ridges maintain the filling end of the balloon from inadvertently slipping from the tying prongs during the tying process. 
     The present invention further includes a method for assisting in tying a balloon. The balloon has a filling end. The method comprises providing a base having a top surface and a bottom surface substantially opposite the top surface, securing a pair of spaced tying prongs to the top surface of the base, extending a ridge from an unsecured end of each of the tying prongs, wrapping the filling end of the balloon around the tying prongs, feeding the filling end between the tying prongs, and maintaining the filling end of the balloon from inadvertently slipping from the tying prongs during the tying process. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating a balloon-tying device, constructed in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is another perspective view illustrating the balloon-tying device of  FIG. 1 , constructed in accordance with the present invention, with the device mounted to a user&#39;s hand; 
         FIG. 3  is still another perspective view illustrating the balloon-tying device of  FIG. 1 , constructed in accordance with the present invention, with the balloon in the process of being tied; 
         FIG. 4  is yet another perspective view illustrating the balloon-tying device of  FIG. 1 , constructed in accordance with the present invention, with the device mounted to a user&#39;s hand, pinched closed with thumb, and the balloon in the process of being tied; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view illustrating another embodiment of the balloon-tying device, constructed in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is another perspective view illustrating the balloon-tying device of  FIG. 5 , constructed in accordance with the present invention, with the device being held by the user and the balloon in the process of being tied; 
         FIG. 7  is a top view illustrating the balloon-tying device of  FIG. 5 , constructed in accordance with the present invention, with the spring-loaded lever or button pinching the balloon stem closed; 
         FIG. 8  is an elevational side view illustrating the balloon-tying device of  FIG. 5 , constructed in accordance with the present invention, with the spring-loaded lever or button pinching the balloon stem closed; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view illustrating still another embodiment of the balloon-tying device, constructed in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 10  is an end side view illustrating the balloon-tying device of  FIG. 5 , constructed in accordance with the present invention, with the spring-loaded lever or button pinching the balloon stem closed; 
         FIG. 11  is an elevational side view illustrating the threaded apparatus of the balloon-tying device, constructed in accordance with the present invention; and 
         FIG. 12  is an elevational side view illustrating the clamping apparatus of the balloon-tying device, constructed in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 1-9 , the present invention is a balloon-tying device, indicated generally at  10 , for facilitating the tying of air-, water-, and helium-filled balloons  13 . The balloon-tying device  10  of the present invention is a children&#39;s toy, a worker&#39;s tool, or a party favor to make balloon tying quicker and easier. The balloon-tying device  10  inhibits the problems of sore fingers and of children needing assistance in tying their balloons  13 . 
     Preferably, the balloon-tying device  10  of the present invention is constructed of a sturdy and durable injection-molded thermoplastic material although constructing the balloon-tying device  10  from other material is within the scope of the present invention. The present invention can be produced in several alternative versions. In at least one embodiment, a pliable strap releasably secures the balloon-tying device  10  to a user&#39;s hand, as will be described in further detail below. 
     As best illustrated in  FIGS. 1-4 , in a first embodiment of the balloon-tying device  10  of the present invention, the balloon-tying device  10  includes base  12  having a top side surface  14 , a bottom side surface  16  substantially opposite the top side surface  14 , a first edge  18 , a second edge  20  substantially opposite and parallel to the first edge  18 , a third edge  22  between and substantially perpendicular to the first edge  18  and the second edge  20 , and a fourth edge  24  substantially opposite and parallel to the third edge  22  and between and substantially perpendicular to the first edge  18  and the second edge  20 . The base  12  is substantially rectangular with the first edge  18  and the second edge  20  having a length less than the third edge  22  and the fourth edge  24 . The third edge  22  and the fourth edge  24  preferably have a length sufficient to cover the index finger and the middle finger of the user, as illustrated. It should be noted that while the base  12  has been described and illustrated as being rectangular, it is within the scope of the present invention for the base  12  to have other geometric shapes including, but not limited to, square, round, oval, etc. 
     In addition, the base of the balloon-tying device  10  includes a first slot  26  substantially parallel to and adjacent the first end  18  and a second slot  28  substantially parallel to and adjacent the second edge  20 . A first strap portion  30  having a first end  32  and a second end  34  and a second strap portion  36  having a first end  38  and a second end  40  are also provided. The first end  32  of the first strap portion  30  is secured through the first slot  26  and the first end  38  of the second strap portion  36  is secured through the second slot  28 . The second ends  34 ,  40  of the first strap portion  30  and the second strap portion  36 , respectively, have different portions of a hook and loop fastener allowing a user to releasably secure the balloon-tying device  10  to his or her fingers, as illustrated and described further below. 
     The balloon-tying device  10  of the present invention further includes a pair of spaced tying prongs  42  each having a base end and a top end. The base ends of the tying prongs  42  are secured to the top surface  14  of the base  12  and extend in a generally upward direction. The top ends of the tying prongs  42  have a ridge  44  extending radially in a direction substantially parallel to the top surface  14  of the base  12 . The ridges  44  assist in maintaining the balloon  13  on the balloon-tying device  10 , as will be described in further detail below. 
     Each of the tying prongs  42  of the balloon-tying device  10  of the present invention further has a first side surface facing the first edge of the base, a second side surface substantially opposite the first side surface, a first end surface between the first side surface and the second side surface, and a second end surface substantially opposite the first end surface and between the first side surface and the second side surface. The lengths of the first side surface and the second side surface are preferably greater than the lengths of the first end surface and the second end surface. Furthermore, the first side surfaces and the second side surfaces are aligned substantially parallel to the first edge  18  and the second edge  20  of the base  12  and the first end surface and the second end surface are preferably angled inward allowing easy removal of the balloon  13  from the balloon-tying device  10 . 
     In practice, the balloon-tying device  10  of the present invention is wrapped around the index and middle fingers of the user. After filling the balloon  13  with the desired medium, the filling end of the balloon  13  is wrapped around the tying prongs  42 , as illustrated, with the ridges  44  maintaining the filling end of the balloon  13  on the tying prongs  42 . Once the filling end of the balloon  13  has been tied, the user simply pulls the filling end in a general direction away from the base  12  and the filling end of the balloon  13  is gently urged over the ridges  44  and off the balloon-tying device  10 . The balloon  13  is now tied and can be used in a desired manner. 
     In another embodiment of the balloon-tying device  10  of the present invention, as best illustrated in  FIGS. 5-8 , the balloon-tying device  10  has an annular base member  12 ′ having a bottom or outer surface  16 ′ and a top or inner surface  14 ′. In an embodiment, the bottom surface  16 ′ preferably has a plurality of indentations  17  and resembles a tire while the top surface  14 ′ is substantially smooth. A pair of tying prongs  42 ′ extend from the top surface  14 ′ in a general direction toward each other, substantially opposite each other. A ridge or hook  44 ′ is formed on each end of the tying prongs  42 ′ for maintaining the balloon  13  to the balloon-tying device  10  during tying operations. 
     Further referring to  FIGS. 5-8 , the balloon-tying device  10  of the present invention has a small spring-clamp  19 . In practice, first, the balloon  13  is filled with air, water, or helium, and the spout (or filling end) of the balloon  13  is pinched shut by the fingers and fed through the hole in the underside of the balloon-tying device  10 . The filled balloon  13  is now positioned at the edge of the balloon-tying device  10 , and the filling end is stretched. The spring-loaded lever or button is pressed, extending the rod over the hole and pinching the balloon stem closed. The clamp  19  seals the balloon&#39;s filling end, prevents leakage, and holds the balloon stem in place. Now, by pulling the end of the balloon  13 , the user employs the two tying prongs  42 ′, fastened to the base  12 ′ at one end and open at the other and uses the tying prongs  42 ′ to facilitate the tying of the balloon  13 , a quick and easy operation. The two tying prongs  42 ′, in fact, function as additional “fingers” to make the knot-tying process quicker and more secure. Once the end of the balloon  13  is tied, the lever is released, and the balloon  13  can be slipped back out beneath the spring-clamp retainer  19  and is now ready for use. As the basic functional design of the balloon-tying device  10  of this embodiment works regardless of the basal or nozzle-adapting configuration, it can be seen that the balloon-tying device  10  can be produced in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and patterns, i.e., not only in the shape and representation of an automobile tire, but of a clown, an animal, a round balloon: almost anything playful, festive, and fanciful. 
     In still another embodiment of the balloon-tying device  10  of the present invention, as best illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the balloon-tying device  10  is built into the rear sight of a water gun or mounted at the nozzle of a helium tank via a threaded or clamping apparatus. In each case, the balloon-tying device  10  presents, a simple and easily used apparatus for securing the filled balloons and tying them. 
     The balloon-tying device  10  of the present invention presents a number of distinct and significant benefits and advantages. Foremost, the balloon-tying device  10  saves consumers, young and old, a tremendous amount of time and effort in the tying of balloons  13 . For those users who need balloons  13  for a party, reception, or other festive occasion, the balloon-tying device  10  is a real time- and finger-saver, making short work of what would otherwise become an onerous, tedious chore. And, for those who provide uninflated balloons  13  for children&#39;s entertainment at parties and then wind up tying all the balloons for the kids, the balloon-tying device  10  not only relieves them of this task, but also gives the kids something fun to do. And for those whose vocation requires tying multiple balloons  13 , i.e., caterers, event planners, and others, the balloon-tying device  10  actually reduces time and labor costs and makes the whole party-giving process run smoother and easier. Easy to use, compact, lightweight, portable, and durable, the balloon-tying device  10  can be employed variously as a child&#39;s toy, a party favor, or a worker&#39;s tool and will thus extend its notable benefits to children, adult consumers, and those in the party-giving business. 
     A device to facilitate the tying of air-, water-, or helium-filled balloons  13 , the balloon-tying device  10  of the present invention enables the users or party-giver to quickly and easily tie any number of balloons  13  and to do so much more efficiently than is possible with conventional hand-tying methods. 
     The foregoing exemplary descriptions and the illustrative preferred embodiments of the present invention have been explained in the drawings and described in detail, with varying modifications and alternative embodiments being taught. While the invention has been so shown, described and illustrated, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that equivalent changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention, and that the scope of the present invention is to be limited only to the claims except as precluded by the prior art. Moreover, the invention as disclosed herein may be suitably practiced in the absence of the specific elements which are disclosed herein.