Ornate adjustable weight for helium balloon

Abstract

An adjustable balloon weight attached to a balloon. The balloon weight is a ribbon having a length of sufficient weight in itself to prevent the balloon from flying away. The balloon weight includes a snap-on connector integral with the ribbon and attaching the balloon to the ribbon. The balloon weight is adjusted by cutting the ribbon.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a balloon weight, and in particular to a balloon weight that is in the form of a ribbon having a weight sufficient to keep the balloon from floating away and is also simply adjustable to various balloon buoyancies by varying the length of the ribbon. The present invention also relates to an improved attachment mechanism between the ribbon and the balloon.

The use of balloons as a “favor” or at parties, celebrations, and other events is now extremely well known. Millions of balloons are so used each year. Generally such balloons are attached to either a stick and a cup or a ribbon so that they can be restrained by the user. Additionally, the balloons are typically filled with helium gas to provide a “lift”, allowing them to stay aloft at the end of the tethered ribbon. Of particular concern of many localities is assurances that such inflated balloons are restrained from free flight into electrical power lines and transformers as well as the atmosphere. Particular concern exists with respect to Mylar or metallic balloons, which pose a threat to electrical transmission wires, and which are not biodegradable. Many municipalities and other governmental agencies consider such balloons to pose at least some threat to the environment. Accordingly, many governmental agencies require that such metallic balloons be tethered to a weight, with the weight being sufficient to prevent the balloon from free flight into the atmosphere.

It has previously been known to employ a weight at the end of a ribbon tethered to a balloon, to restrain the balloon from free flight. Most often, there is a necessity for the retail clerk to cut a length of ribbon, attach one end of it to the weight, and to knot or otherwise attach the opposite end to the balloon. The operation is extremely time consuming, and occasionally ineffective. To hasten the operation by the retail clerk, some balloon weights have been provided with a pre-attached length of ribbon, such that the retail clerk need only attach the opposite end to the balloon. At least one known design employs a spool for windably storing the ribbon. Once the ribbon is secured to the balloon, the ribbon unravels from the spool as the balloon travels aloft. Without restraint, the balloon will unwind the entire length of ribbon. To control the height of the balloon, the length of ribbon is cut. Often, balloons are used to make balloon bouquets using several balloons suspended at differing heights. To achieve this effect, a different length ribbon must be cut for each height. As can be appreciated, this process is quite labor intensive.

A known balloon weight is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,411,427 as having a flat body with a strip-like extension forming a latch of engageable locking tongues. While such balloon weights have generally been successful, the mass of the balloon weight is determined solely by the amount of plastic used to form it, such that various weights are required to counter various buoyancies. Indeed such prior art balloon weights are typically designed as a body with a definite weight such that each weight is only suitable for balloons with the same or similar buoyancy. Thus, a whole series of balloon weights of a similar form, but a different mass must be produced, wherefore several tools are necessary and also several articles have to be sold in shops, making the balloon weights unnecessarily expensive. Moreover, the latches of prior balloon weights have typically been structurally complex and not given to ease of manufacture and use.

A balloon weight is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,582,272. This balloon weight is attached to a balloon by a piece of double backed adhesive tape at one end of a ribbon. Weights such as this that attach to the balloon by an adhesive share the problem of coming loose from the balloon inadvertently.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,358,110 and 6,663,460 disclose the ability to adjust the ballast within the balloon weight. However, these apparatuses are cumbersome and ballast can only be added to the balloon weight, not removed below the weight of the ballast container.

There is a need for an improved balloon weight that addresses the above problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In light of the foregoing, it is an object of the invention to provide a balloon weight for toy or decorative balloons.

Another object of the invention is to provide a balloon weight that ensures that the balloon does not fly away from a location.

A further object of the invention is to provide a balloon weight in the form of a ribbon that keeps the balloon at a chosen place and, by selectively adjusting the length of the ribbon attached to the balloon, the height of the balloon over the place where the balloon is situated can be controlled.

A further object of the invention is to provide a balloon weight in the form of a ribbon with sufficient weight to keep the balloon from floating away.

A further object of the invention is to provide a balloon weight ribbon with adjustable weight for various size balloons, the weight being adjustable by cutting the ribbon.

A further object of the invention is to provide a balloon weight ribbon of material that can be easily cut with a simple tool, such as a scissors, to adjust the weight of the ribbon.

A further object of the invention is to provide a ribbon balloon tether with an improved mechanism for securing the balloon to the tether that does not require adhesive or string.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention are achieved by a balloon weight that is in the form of a ribbon that has sufficient weight to keep the balloon from floating away. To adjust the weight to various size balloons and various environmental conditions, the ribbon may simply be cut with a suitable tool, thereby decreasing the weight of ribbon holding the balloon down. An improved connector to secure the balloon to the ribbon is designed as a simple snap-on connector integral with the ribbon, thus avoiding the need for adhesive or ties.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention attached to a balloon.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the ribbon of the present invention being cut with a scissors to adjust the weight of ribbon attached to the balloon.

FIG. 3 is a close-up view of the clasp of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a detailed view of the parts of the clasp.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As used in the present invention, a “ribbon” shall be defined as a length of flexible material that is flexible enough that it may be coiled.

The present invention is generally shown in the Figures as reference numeral 10.

In one aspect, the present invention is a balloon weight 10 attached to a lighter than air balloon 12, the balloon weight 10 comprising a ribbon 14 having a length L of sufficient weight in itself to prevent the balloon 12 from flying away. The length L of the ribbon 14 is adjustable by cutting the ribbon 14 to adjust the weight of the ribbon 14 for balloons of various sizes and for various environmental conditions.

A ribbon suitable for the present invention is available from Lawrence Ko, Axis, Hong Kong.

As shown in FIG. 2, the length L of the ribbon can be adjusted by cutting the ribbon 14 with a simple tool, such as a scissors. Further, as also can be seen in FIG. 2, the appropriate length L of ribbon can be derived by uncoiling the ribbon from a spool 16.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the balloon weight 10 further comprises a connector 18 integral with the ribbon 14. In order to secure the ribbon 14 to the balloon easily but still prevent the connector from coming loose from the balloon, the connector 18 preferably has no adhesive. Because the connector 18 can be used with balloons with various size necks, the connector 18 is preferably adjustable for various sizes of balloons. Most preferably, the connector 18 is a snap-on connector 20.

Details of the snap-on connector 20 are shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, where it will be seen that the snap-on connector 20 further comprises a flexible tab 22 having a pin 24 and a receiver 26 receiving the pin 24. The pin 24 has an enlarged knob 28 that snaps into an opening 30 in the receiver 26. The tab 22 further comprises a plurality of holes 32 into which the pin 24 is insertable in order to adjust the loop formed when the pin 24 is inserted into the receiver 26 for various size balloons.

In another aspect, the present invention is a snap-on connector 20 and ribbon tether 14 for a lighter than air balloon 12, the connector 20 being integral with the ribbon tether 14, and the ribbon tether 14 providing sufficient weight to moor the balloon 12. The length L of the ribbon tether 14 is adjustable by cutting the ribbon 14 to adjust the weight of the ribbon 14 for balloons of various sizes and for various environmental conditions.

As shown in FIG. 2, the length L of the ribbon 14 can be adjusted by cutting the ribbon 14 with a simple tool, such as a scissors. Further, as also can be seen in FIG. 2, the appropriate length L of ribbon can be derived by uncoiling the ribbon from a spool 16.

In order to secure the ribbon 14 to the balloon easily but still prevent the connector from coming loose from the balloon, the connector 20 preferably has no adhesive. Because the connector 18 can be used with balloons with various size necks, the connector 18 is preferably adjustable for various sizes of balloons.

Details of the snap-on connector 20 are shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, where it will be seen that the snap-on connector 20 further comprises a flexible tab 22 having a pin 24 and a receiver 26 receiving the pin 24. The pin 24 has an enlarged knob 28 that snaps into an opening 30 in the receiver 26. The tab 22 further comprises a plurality of holes 32 into which the pin 24 is insertable in order to adjust the loop formed when the pin 24 is inserted into the receiver 26 for various size balloons.

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although methods and materials similar to or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the present invention, suitable methods and materials are described below. All publications, patent applications, patents, and other references mentioned herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety to the extent allowed by applicable law and regulations. In case of conflict, the present specification, including definitions, will control.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and it is therefore desired that the present embodiment be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being made to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A balloon weight attached to a lighter than air balloon, the balloon weight comprising a ribbon having a length of sufficient weight in itself to prevent the balloon from flying away, wherein the length of the ribbon is adjustable by cutting the ribbon to adjust the weight for balloons of various sizes and for various environmental conditions.

2. The balloon weight of claim 1, wherein the ribbon can be cut with a simple tool.

3. The balloon weight of claim 1, further comprising a connector integral with the ribbon attaching the balloon to the ribbon.

4. The balloon weight of claim 3, wherein the connector has no adhesive.

5. The balloon weight of claim 3, wherein the connector is adjustable for various sizes of balloons.

6. The balloon weight of claim 5, the balloon having a neck, wherein the connector further comprises a tab having a plurality of holes, a pin insertable into one of the plurality of holes, and a receiver mating with the pin, wherein when the pin is insertable into one of the plurality of holes, a loop is formed securing the balloon neck therein.

7. A balloon weight attached to a balloon, the balloon weight comprising a ribbon having a length of sufficient weight in itself to prevent the balloon from flying away, wherein the length of the ribbon is adjustable by cutting the ribbon to adjust the weight for balloons of various sizes and for various environmental conditions, and a connector integral with the ribbon and attaching the balloon to the ribbon.

8. The balloon weight of claim 7, wherein the connector has no adhesive.

9. The balloon weight of claim 8, wherein the connector is adjustable for various sizes of balloons.

10. The balloon weight of claim 9, the balloon having a neck, wherein the connector further comprises a tab having a plurality of holes, a pin insertable into one of the plurality of holes, and a receiver mating with the pin, wherein when the pin is insertable into one of the plurality of holes, a loop is formed securing the balloon neck therein.

11. An adjustable balloon weight attached to a balloon, the balloon weight comprising a ribbon having a length of sufficient weight in itself to prevent the balloon from flying away, wherein the length of the ribbon is adjustable by cutting the ribbon to adjust the weight for balloons of various sizes and for various environmental conditions, and a snap-on connector integral with the ribbon and attaching the balloon to the ribbon.

12. The balloon weight of claim 11, wherein the ribbon can be cut with a simple tool.

13. The balloon weight of claim 12, wherein the connector has no adhesive.

14. The balloon weight of claim 13, wherein the connector is adjustable for various sizes of balloons.

15. The balloon weight of claim 14, the balloon having a neck, wherein the connector further comprises a tab having a plurality of holes, a pin insertable into one of the plurality of holes, and a receiver mating with the pin, wherein when the pin is insertable into one of the plurality of holes to snap the connector onto the balloon.

16. A snap-on connector and ribbon tether for a lighter than air balloon, the connector being integral with a ribbon tether that provides sufficient weight to moor the balloon.

17. The snap-on connector and tether of claim 16, wherein the ribbon can be cut with a simple tool.

18. The snap-on connector and tether of claim 17, wherein the connector has no adhesive.

19. The snap-on connector and tether of claim 18, wherein the connector is adjustable for various sizes of balloons.

20. The snap-on connector and tether of claim 19, the balloon having a neck, wherein the connector further comprises a tab having a plurality of holes, a pin insertable into one of the plurality of holes, and a receiver mating with the pin, wherein when the pin is insertable into one of the plurality of holes to snap the connector onto the balloon.