Abstract: Structures for use in restraining balloons, particularly balloons filled with helium, are provided that include one or more additional functionalities. In an exemplary embodiment, the structure includes an internal light source that is adapted to emit light through one or more faces of the structure, e.g., through translucent or transparent surfaces associated with one or more walls of the structure. In another exemplary embodiment, the structure is reconfigurable and includes one or more removable panel that may be theme-based, holiday-based, and the like Additional features and functionalities associated with embodiments of the structure include one or more sound emitting elements positioned within the structure, one or more power sources positioned within the structure for powering the light source and/or the sound emitting element(s), and one or more handles/extensions/brackets for detachably receiving/securing a balloon string.

Abstract: Structures for use in restraining balloons, particularly balloons filled with helium, are provided that include one or more additional functionalities. In an exemplary embodiment, the structure includes an internal light source that is adapted to emit light through one or more faces of the structure, e.g., through translucent or transparent surfaces associated with one or more walls of the structure. Additional features and functionalities associated with embodiments of the structure include one or more sound emitting elements positioned within the structure, one or more power sources positioned within the structure for powering the light source and/or the sound emitting element(s), one or more handles/extensions/brackets for detachably receiving/securing a balloon string, and novelty appearances that may be theme-based, holiday-based and the like.

Abstract: Lighting units for use in a variety of enclosures/containers, such as Jack-O-Lanterns formed from hollowed-out pumpkin gourds, that define an interior region for receipt of a lighting unit, are provided. The enclosure/container and the lighting unit are combined to achieve a desired illumination effect, e.g., consistent with a holiday and/or seasonal theme. The lighting unit generally includes an elongate lighting element which can be placed in a number of different illumination modes, a hilt/handle to which the elongate lighting element is attached, and a control switch located on the handle for actuation by a user. A tip of the elongate lighting element is placed against the skin of the Jack-O-Lantern pumpkin, the tip being sized and shaped to permit itself and at least an adjacent part of the elongate lighting element to be pushed through the pumpkin flesh to depth of the hilt for internal illumination of the Jack-O-Lantern.

Abstract: Lighting units for use in a variety of enclosures/containers to achieve a desired illumination effect are provided. The enclosures/containers are susceptible to illumination from within, defining an interior region for receipt of a lighting unit. The enclosure/container and the lighting unit are combined to achieve a desired illumination effect, e.g., consistent with a holiday and/or seasonal theme. The lighting unit generally includes a plurality of light elements that are adapted to generate at least three light colors, e.g., red, green and blue. The light elements are adapted to generate light in a pre-selected manner, e.g., pursuant to a selected illumination pattern. The combination may be employed with enclosure(s) having holiday/seasonal themes, e.g., a Jack-O-Lantern, a pumpkin, a ghost, a witch, a black cat, a skeleton, a Santa Claus figure, a candy cane, a reindeer, a snow man, an igloo, a ski lodge, a snowmobile, and the like.