Apparatus for tying knots in inflated balloons

Abstract

An apparatus for tying inflated balloons having a wrapping member and a threading member. The threading member is configured to insert into a slot in the wrapping member. The apparatus is configured to aid in tying an inflated balloon by wrapping a neck of the inflated balloon around the wrapping member, securing a mouth of the inflated balloon in a gripping portion of the threading member, and removing the threaded member from the wrapping member to pull the mouth of the inflated balloon through the wrapped neck of the balloon. This results in an inflated balloon having a knot tied in the neck thereof.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/361,014, filed Feb. 28, 2002 and entitled “Apparatus for Tying Knots in Inflated Balloons”.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention generally relates to a device and method for tying balloons. More specifically, the present invention relates to a device and method for tying a knot in the neck of an inflated balloon.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Balloons are popular novelty items used in decorations and entertainment. Balloon tying is frequently difficult because of the fine motor dexterity that is required to tie an inflated balloon. For people with disabilities such as arthritis, carpel tunnel syndrome, etc., tying balloons may not be possible. Several devices have been designed to aid in tying inflated balloons, including U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,325,426; 6,227,580; 6,082,785; 5,611,578; 5,647,615; 5,5568,950; 5,314,217; 5,104,160; 5,039,142; 4,802,877; 4,510,653; and 3,752,517 the disclosures of which are herein incorporated by reference.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] An apparatus for tying inflated balloons having a wrapping member and a threading member. The threading member is configured to insert into a slot in the wrapping member. The apparatus is configured to aid in tying an inflated balloon by wrapping a neck of the inflated balloon around the wrapping member, securing a mouth of the inflated balloon in a gripping portion of the threading member, and removing the threaded member from the wrapping member to pull the mouth of the inflated balloon through the wrapped neck of the balloon. This results in an inflated balloon having a knot tied in the neck thereof.

[0005] The advantages of the present invention will be understood more readily after a consideration of the drawings and the Detailed Description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] FIG. 1 is a photograph of an embodiment of the balloon tying apparatus of the present invention.

[0007] FIG. 2 is a photograph of the embodiment of FIG. 1, showing a wrapping member and threading member disengaged from one another.

[0008] FIG. 3 is a photograph of the embodiment of FIG. 1, showing the wrapping member and the threading member engaged.

[0009] FIG. 4 is a photograph of the embodiment of FIG. 1, showing the threaded member disengaged from the wrapping member.

[0010] FIG. 5 is a photograph of the embodiment of FIG. 1, showing a neck portion of an inflated balloon being wrapped around the wrapping member.

[0011] FIG. 6 is a photograph of the embodiment of FIG. 1, showing a mouth portion of an inflated balloon hooked into a slot on the threading member.

[0012] FIG. 7 is photograph of the embodiment of FIG. 1, showing the threading member threading the mouth through the wrapped neck of the balloon.

[0013] FIG. 8 is a photograph of the embodiment of FIG. 1, showing the threaded member removed from the wrapping member and a knot tied in the neck of the balloon.

[0014] FIG. 9 is a photograph of the embodiment of FIG. 1, showing the threading member being rotated to release the mouth portion of the inflated balloon.

[0015] FIG. 10 is a photograph of the embodiment of FIG. 1, showing the tied balloon removed from the balloon tying apparatus.

[0016] FIG. 11 is a top view of another embodiment of a balloon tying apparatus according to the present invention.

[0017] FIG. 12 is a side view of the balloon tying apparatus of FIG. 11.

[0018] FIG. 13 is a perspective the balloon tying apparatus of FIG. 11.

[0019] FIG. 14 is an end view of the balloon tying apparatus of FIG. 11.

[0020] FIG. 15 is a side view of the balloon tying apparatus of FIG. 11, showing the threading member removed from the balloon tying apparatus.

[0021] FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the balloon tying apparatus of FIG. 11, showing the threading member removed from the balloon tying apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0022] The present invention is an inflated balloon tying apparatus, generally indicated at 10. In FIG. 1, apparatus 10 includes a wrapping member 12 and a threading member 14. Wrapping member 12 includes a receiving slot 16 extending through an end portion 18 thereof. Slot 16 may be configured to receive an end portion 20 of threading member 14, substantially within slot 16, as shown in FIG. 1.

[0023] FIG. 2 shows wrapping member 12 and threaded member 14 disengaged from one another. A groove 22 or neck support guide may be formed on end portion 18 of wrapping member 12. Groove 22 provides a guide for aligning a neck of an inflated balloon as the neck is wrapped around wrapping member 12.

[0024] A mouth-holding slot, or gripper portion 24 may be formed on end portion 20 of threading member 14. Mouth-holding slot 24 may be sized to receive the neck of an inflated balloon just above the mouth of the balloon. Mouth-holding slot 24 may be configured to prevent a mouth of an inflated balloon from slipping out.

[0025] In FIG. 3, wrapping member 12 is secured to a fixture 26 such that the wrapping member 12 extends upwardly providing free space around end portion 18. This free space enables a neck of an inflated balloon to be wrapped easily around wrapping member 12. Threading member 14 is engaged with slot 16 to aid in tying an inflated balloon.

[0026] In FIG. 4, wrapping member 12 and threading member 14 are disengaged. FIG. 4 clearly illustrates the slot and groove in member 12. Additionally, gripper portion or mouth-holding slot 24 is clearly shown.

[0027] An inflated balloon may be tied with apparatus 10 by following the steps, illustrated by FIGS. 5-10. Initially, a user stretches the neck of an inflated balloon and aligns it with groove 22 of wrapping member 12, as shown in FIG. 5. Threading member 14 should be engaged in slot 16 of wrapping member 12.

[0028] Subsequently, a user wraps the mouth end of the neck of the inflated balloon around the wrapping member. Crossing over the stretched neck in groove 22, the mouth of the inflated balloon is secured in mouth-holding slot 24 of threading member 14, as shown in FIG. 6. A user then grips threading member 14 and withdraws it from slot 16, thereby pulling the mouth of the balloon through the looped neck, as shown in FIG. 7.

[0029] Next, a user removes the inflated balloon from wrapping member 12, thereby tightening the looped neck into a knot, as shown in FIG. 8. Finally, a user rotates threading member 14 toward the inflated balloon to release the mouth of the balloon from mouth-holding slot 24, resulting in a tied balloon, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10.

[0030] Another embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 11-16. This embodiment functions in a similar manner to that described with reference to FIGS. 1-10. The design is configured not to include a mount, but replaces the mount with a handle, as will be explained below. The process of tying the balloon using this alternative embodiment is the same as that described with reference to FIGS. 5-10.

[0031] FIGS. 11-16 show a balloon tying apparatus 110. The apparatus includes a wrapping member 112 and a threading member 114. The wrapping member 112 includes a slot 116 in an end portion 118. Threading member 114 includes an end portion 120 configured to insert into slot 116. Threading member 114 includes a mouth-holding slot 124 configured to hold the mouth of a balloon.

[0032] Wrapping member 112 includes a handle portion 130 that may be manually held during the operation of balloon tying apparatus 110. Wrapping member 112 includes a wrapping guide or groove 122 that positions the stretched neck of a balloon being tied using apparatus 10. Wrapping guide 122 supports the neck of an inflated balloon as the mouth of the balloon is pulled through a loop created around wrapping member 112 by the balloon neck resulting in a tied balloon.

[0033] Although the invention has been disclosed in its preferred forms, the specific embodiments thereof as disclosed and illustrated herein are not to be considered in a limiting sense, because numerous variations are possible. The subject matter of the invention includes all novel and non-obvious combinations and subcombinations of the various elements, features, functions, and/or properties disclosed herein. No single feature, function, element or property of the disclosed embodiments is essential. Various claims may be part of applications that may claim priority of this application. Such claims may define certain combinations and subcombinations of features, functions, elements, and/or properties. Such claims, whether they are broader, narrower, equal, or different in scope to any earlier claims, also are regarded as included within the subject matter of the invention.

Claims

1. A balloon tying apparatus comprising:

a wrapping member configured to support a neck of an inflated balloon in a wrapped configuration and including a receiving slot;

a threading member configured to insert into the receiving slot and configured to secure a mouth of the inflated balloon.

2. The balloon tying apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wrapping member includes a neck support guide configured to support the neck of the inflated balloon during the tying operation.

3. The balloon tying apparatus of claim 1, wherein the threading member includes a mouth holding slot for securing the mouth of the inflated balloon.

4. A method for tying an inflated balloon comprising:

providing a balloon tying apparatus including a wrapping member configured to support a neck of an inflated balloon in a wrapped configuration and including a receiving slot and a threading member configured to insert into the receiving slot and configured to secure a mouth of the inflated balloon;

wrapping a neck of an inflated balloon around the wrapping member;

crossing the mouth of the inflated balloon over the wrapped neck of the balloon;

securing the mouth of the inflated balloon in a mouth-retaining slot in the threading member;

removing the threaded member from the wrapping member thereby pulling the mouth of the balloon through the wrapped neck of the balloon; and

removing the wrapped neck of the balloon from the wrapping member and releasing the mouth of the balloon from the threading member.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the wrapping member includes a neck support guide configured to support the neck of the inflated balloon during wrapping.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the threading member includes a mouth holding slot for securing the mouth of the inflated balloon.