Lighted balloon entertainment device
A balloon inflation and air containment device is provided. The device includes a first tube with a first end which receives an air supply and a second end which receives a mouth of a balloon. A collapsible second tube is axially sealably connected to the first tube and extends away from the first tube. A method for constructing a balloon assembly with the above-described device is also provided.
Latest Buzz Bee Toys, Inc. Patents:
This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application No. 60/455,683, filed Mar. 17, 2003 which is incorporated by reference as if fully set forth.
BACKGROUNDBalloons are simple and traditional entertainment items for young children. However, inflating a balloon, especially orally, is not a simple task because air has a tendency to escape though the mouth of the balloon between bursts of inflation air or after inflation and prior to sealing the mouth. Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a device which eases balloon inflation.
Since balloons are typically novelty items, any features which provide added distinction are desirable. Providing lights within an otherwise plain balloon would be effective to add interest to the balloon. It would be desirable to provide an efficient, cost effective device for adding light to a balloon.
SUMMARYBriefly stated the invention provides a balloon inflation and air containment device. The device includes a first tube with a first end for receiving an air supply and a second end for receiving a mouth of a balloon. A collapsible second tube is connected to the first tube in a substantially airtight manner and extends away from the first tube. In one embodiment, a lighting device may be positioned inside the balloon.
Also provided is a method for constructing a balloon assembly. The method includes providing a tube assembly including a first tube and a collapsible second tube, axially connected to the first tube, which extends away from the first tube. A balloon is provided, and the tube assembly is axially inserted into a mouth of the balloon with the second tube leading into the balloon. The method includes providing an air supply at a first end of the first tube and inflating the balloon with the air supply. In one embodiment, a lighting device having an extension rod and a lighting element connected to the extension rod is provided. The lighting device is inserted through the tube assembly into an interior of the balloon.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThe foregoing summary as well as the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the present invention will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings an embodiment that is currently preferred. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangement shown.
Certain terminology is used in the following description for convenience only and is not considered limiting. Words such as “front”, “back”, “top” and “bottom” designate directions in the drawings to which reference is made. This terminology includes the words specifically noted above, derivatives thereof and words of similar import. Additionally, the terms “a” and “one” are defined as including one or more of the referenced item unless specifically noted.
The preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawing figures where like numerals represent like elements throughout.
Referring now to
Referring to
Referring to
On the bottom part of the supporter 12, there is an aperture which is placed over the air filling pipe 10 with the balloon skin disposed between, as seen in
Installation of the tube assembly 50 into the balloon is as follows. Referring to
The sealing film tube 11 on the air filling pipe 10 acts as a uni-directional valve which allows air to enter the balloon 20 during inflation, but prevents air from being expelled from the balloon when inflation is stopped. FIG. 8 shows a method of inflating the balloon using a foot pump 40 and tube 41. Alternatively, the balloon may be inflated using any method including orally blowing into the filing pipe 10, or using other air filling apparatuses.
After the balloon has been inflated to a predetermined size, a lighting device 30 may be added to the device 70. The lighting device 30 is preferably inserted into the balloon through the tube assembly 50 to provide lighting to the balloon assembly 80. Also, if desired, the lighting device 30 may be inserted prior to inflation. The lighting device 30 includes an extension rod 38 and a lighting element 31. Referring to
The lighting device 30 inside the balloon transforms a traditional balloon into an attractive, illuminated object. Children carrying the balloon will attract the attention of others, especially at night.
The balloon inflation and air containment device 70 can be provided with a variety of different mounting devices so that the complete, inflated balloon assembly 80 can be mounted in different places.
While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been described in detail, the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described above, which should be considered as merely exemplary. Further modifications and extensions of the present invention may be developed, and all such modifications are deemed to be within the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.
Claims
1. A balloon inflation and air containment device comprising:
- a first tube having a first end for receiving an air supply and a second end for receiving a mouth of a balloon; and
- a second tube, axially sealably connected to the first tube in a substantially airtight manner, which extends away from the first tube, the second tube being collapsible,
- whereby the air supply which is received by the first end of the first tube, passes through the second tube prior to entering the balloon.
2. The device according to claim 1, further comprising adhesive tape which connects the second tube to the first tube.
3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second tubes are substantially cylindrical, and wherein the second end of the first tube is tapered and connects with an interior surface of the second tube.
4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first tube includes a shoulder for attaching the mouth of a balloon, and wherein the device further comprises a balloon supporter which contacts the shoulder, with a portion of the balloon disposed between the shoulder and the balloon supporter.
5. The device according to claim 4, wherein the balloon supporter is a substantially dome-shaped structure having a centrally located aperture for receiving there through the first and second tubes.
6. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a plug connected with the first end of the first tube for preventing air from escaping from the balloon after the air supply is received by the balloon.
7. The device according to claim 6, further comprising a support rod connected to at least one of the first tube and the plug for supporting the balloon.
8. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a lighting device which is positioned inside the balloon.
9. The device according to claim 8, wherein the lighting device includes an extension rod which extends through the first and second tubes, and at least one lighting element connected to the extension rod for illuminating an interior of the balloon.
10. The device according to claim 9, further comprising a plug which is sealingly connected to the first end of the first tube and the extension rod to prevent air from escaping from the balloon.
11. A method for constructing a balloon assembly comprising:
- providing a tube assembly including a first tube having first and second ends, and a collapsible second tube axially sealably connected to the first tube in a substantially airtight manner which extends away from the first tube;
- providing a balloon including a mouth;
- inserting the tube assembly axially into the mouth of the balloon with the second tube leading into the balloon, wherein an inside surface of the mouth sealably connects with an outside surface of the tube assembly;
- providing an air supply at the first end of the first tube; and
- inflating the balloon with the air supply.
12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the providing of the tube assembly includes providing the first tube with a shoulder, and wherein the method further comprises:
- providing a balloon supporter having an aperture through which the balloon is placed prior to the tube assembly being inserted into the balloon mouth; and
- inserting the tube assembly axially through the aperture of the balloon supporter wherein the perimeter of the aperture contacts the shoulder, with a portion of the balloon disposed between the shoulder and the balloon supporter.
13. The method according to claim 11, further comprising providing a lighting device and inserting the lighting device into the balloon through the mouth.
14. The method according to claim 11, further comprising:
- providing a lighting device including an extension rod and a lighting element connected to the extension rod; and
- inserting the lighting device through the tube assembly into an interior of the balloon wherein at least a portion of the lighting device is surrounded by the tube assembly.
15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising sealably connecting a plug to the first tube to prevent the air supply from escaping the balloon.
16. The method according to claim 14, further comprising:
- providing a plug having an having an aperture;
- sealably inserting the extension rod through the aperture;
- sealably inserting the plug into the first tube to prevent the air supply from escaping the balloon.
17. The method according to claim 11, further comprising connecting a support rod to the tube assembly.
18. A balloon assembly, comprising:
- a balloon inflation and air containment device, which includes a first tube having a first end for receiving an air supply and a second end for receiving a mouth of a balloon, and which includes a second tube, axially sealably connected to the first tube in a substantially airtight manner, which extends away from the first tube, the second tube being collapsible; and
- a balloon, which includes a mouth which is sealably connected to the first tube in a substantially air tight manner, wherein the second end of the first tube and at least a portion of the second tube are contained in an interior of the balloon;
- whereby the air supply which is received by the first end of the first tube passes through the second tube prior to entering the balloon.
19. The assembly according to claim 18, wherein the balloon inflation and air containment device further includes a balloon supporter supported by the first tube, wherein a portion of the balloon is disposed between the first tube and the balloon supporter.
20. The assembly according to claim 18, wherein the balloon inflation and air containment device further includes a lighting device, connected to the first tube, which extends into the interior of the balloon.
21. The combination assembly according to claim 20, wherein the balloon inflation and air containment device further includes a plug which is sealingly connected to the first end of the first tube and the lighting device to prevent air from escaping from the balloon.
22. The combination assembly according to claim 21, wherein the balloon inflation and air containment device further includes a supporting rod connected to the plug.
23. The combination assembly according to claim 18, wherein the balloon inflation and air containment device further includes a supporting rod connected to the first tube.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 17, 2004
Publication Date: Mar 10, 2005
Applicant: Buzz Bee Toys, Inc. (Mt. Laurel, NJ)
Inventor: Woo Ma (Kowloon)
Application Number: 10/802,587