Balloon novelty device and method
A novelty device is provide for displaying a message. The device includes a package with closable flaps at upper and lower ends. The device also includes an inflatable balloon attached to the package and capable of being stored in an uninflated state therewithin. The device also includes an attachable stand for holding the package upright and a sealable valve for inflating the balloon.
This patent application claims priority to Provisional Patent Applications 60/775,097 filed Feb. 20, 2006 and 60/808,184 filed May 24, 2006. Those applications are herein incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to inflatable novelty devices and, more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to a novelty device incorporating an inflatable balloon and mailable package assembly.
2. History of Related Art
The use of novelty devices for greeting cards and general commercial use is well known. A variety of card and balloon novelty devices exist that incorporate an inflatable balloon in conjunction with a greeting card. Considerable design effort has been expended in recent years in improving greeting cards with inflatable element attachments. In the main, the inflatable elements comprise balloons and are hereinafter referred to in that manner. Silver metalized balloons have been around since the 1970s. These foil balloons are sometimes called Mylar balloons and may be made from sandwiched sheets of plastic (polyethelene) or nylon that are then coated with aluminum. The mechanism for inflating the balloon has been, in certain instances, an area of innovation. Likewise, the manner of message display in conjunction with the balloon has also been an area of innovation.
In general, novelty devices incorporating balloons have not been limited to greeting cards, but also have used inflatable objects mounted in containers with moveable lids. Inflation means provided within an assembly facilitate rapid expansion of the inflatable object beyond the bounds of the container. Inflation causes the lid to move into an open position and a fully inflated object is presented into view.
Finally, the use of novelty devices as referenced above has included the area of “general commercial use.” This area includes a multitude of designs and items. For example, the placement of a child's toy in a package of edible foodstuff is well known. The practice dates back many decades and often comprised a small molded plastic device and/or other item placed with the packaged foodstuff to engender joy and/or entertainment in addition to consumption of the foodstuff. In more recent decades, the use of such novelty devices for general commercial use has been extended to fast-food restaurants. In such restaurants, novelty devices have been included in numerous marketing programs in order to encourage customers.
It would be an advantage, therefore, to provide a method of and package for a novelty device which could be beneficial for greetings, general commercial use, and related systems and programs. Consistent therewith, the following aspects of improvements will be defined below and include, but not be limited to, improved balloon and package designs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to a package with an inflatable balloon assembled therein for subsequent inflation, the package being adapted for one of (1) mailing and subsequent positioning and presentation formed by an inflated balloon greeting, (2) the use of the package as a container for articles to be enjoyed in conjunction with the uninflated balloon assembled therein prior to or with the balloon's inflation and (3) related applications. More particularly, one aspect of the invention includes a three-dimensional envelope assembly adapted for containing an inflatable balloon in an uninflated condition. The uninflated balloon allows for compact packaging and it may then serve as a greeting, a novelty device, a toy, and/or surprise relative to the package. In one embodiment, the package is adapted for transmittal through local, national, and/or international postal and/or delivery services. In one embodiment, the balloon is made of mylar/film, or the like.
In one embodiment, the balloon may be inflated and deflated a plurality of times, allowing multiple recipients to enjoy and/or participate in the package. In another embodiment, the package is adapted for serving as a container for articles. The articles may be toys, confetti, novelty devices, and/or in some applications, foodstuffs, such as french-fries, candy, and the like. It should be noted that special packaging and sanitary considerations may be taken into account for such applications More particularly, relative to the last above-mentioned embodiment, the package may be provided in an assembly adapted for use in restaurants, and particularly fast-food restaurants, where the inflatable balloon may comprise a form of a surprise an/or novelty relative to the foodstuff served within the package. The balloon may be inflated either before or after consuming the foodstuff and additional enjoyment of the foodstuff purchase facilitated. Such “secondary” enjoyment from a primary purchase decision can create a buying incentive for subsequent purchases, therein improving the marketability of the item of the primary purchase. In the business of “fast food” restaurants, such “marketing” incentives have been, and often are, primary resources for market dominance and/or commercial leadership.
In one embodiment, the above-described inflatable greeting package includes a plurality of specially designed flaps adapted for the dual function of securing the inflatable balloon therein and serving as a stand for the package once the balloon has been inflated. These flaps may be used as part of a stand-up display of the balloon with or without the packaging of “foodstuff” as described above. A variety of flap designs may be used. In another embodiment, an attachable stand may be included with the package adapted to be attached to the outside of the package for supporting the package in an upright position.
In yet another aspect, the balloon novelty design includes the utilization of sound and/or light wherein the units may either be pushed or switch activated so that sound may be heard or a greeting played for the user. When light is activated, the balloon may light up internally and glow. Other options consistent with the improvements set forth herein, relate to the balloon having a writeable surface wherein a child could color the balloon using permanent markers or the balloon could be printed on a back portion with a 3D image, the front of the balloon having viewing areas which have the appropriate red/blue filters. In this way, users could look through the balloon to see the 3D image.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSA more complete understanding of the method and apparatus of the present invention may be obtained by reference to the following Detailed Description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying Drawings wherein:
It has been found by the Applicant of the present invention that a combination of a package having at least one inflatable element mounted therein in an uninflated state can provide numerous benefits for both a sender as well as a user. The following description will illustrate multiple embodiments of the package of the present invention in
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The above described embodiments of the package 1 of the present invention can be seen to be particularly adapted for a user as well as a sender. The term “sender” is used herein to include both the person mailing and/or transmitting the package through the mails and/or delivery service as well as a sales person in a commercial establishment sending the package 1 to the recipient for subsequent use in conjunction with other items. For example, the sender in a fast-food restaurant could be the clerk who is providing the foodstuffs within the package 1 as described above. The package 1 may be configured for holding foodstuff items, such as french fries, outside the container 12 such as in a pouch portion thereagainst. The container 12 may be affixed to such a pouch, such as a french-fry pouch, or one side of the container could act as a side of the pouch for separating the foodstuff from the balloon 10. The container 12 may also be configured to enclose the foodstuff completely. In that embodiment, the container 12 may include a section separating foodstuffs stored in a lower portion from the uninflated balloon 10 stored in an upper portion. The size and shape of the package 1 may also vary in order to hold the quantity foodstuff items for purposes of effective sales and marketing and profitable remuneration relative to a program utilizing such novelty devices in association with the sale of other items.
An additional embodiment is also contemplated where the container 12 is formed of plastic, such as injection-molded plastic. In that way, an air channel may be formed as part of the container 12 wherein one end of the air channel is attached to an opening of the balloon 10 and an other end of the air channel is a valve for inflating the balloon. The uninflated balloon 10 may be stored in the container 12 and inflated to reveal a design or message according to the principles disclosed above. Additionally, a compartment for containing foodstuffs may also be affixed to the container 12.
Although various embodiments of the method and apparatus of the present invention have been illustrated in the accompanying Drawings and described in the foregoing Detailed Description, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments described herein.
Claims
1. A novelty device for displaying an inflatable balloon comprising:
- a package having upper and lower ends wherein the upper and lower ends have closable flaps;
- an inflatable balloon with a neck portion and a bulbous portion, the neck portion being attached to the package and adapted to extend out of the lower end of the package and the bulbous portion adapted to be stored inside the package in an uninflated state and extend out of the upper end of the package in an inflated state;
- an attachable stand adapted to be attached to an outside portion of the package for holding the package in an upright position; and
- a sealable valve attached to the neck portion of the inflatable balloon for allowing air to pass therethrough and for securing air within the inflatable balloon.
2. The novelty device of claim 1 and further comprising a brace attached to an inside of the package for securing the inflatable balloon in an upper portion of the package when the inflatable balloon is in an uninflated state.
3. The novelty device of claim 1 and further comprising an outer cover adapted to be placed over an upper portion of the package for protecting the inflatable balloon.
4. The novelty device of claim 1 wherein the inflatable balloon is adapted for the receipt of stickers thereon.
5. The novelty device of claim 1 wherein the inflatable balloon comprises a surface for writing on with a felt-tipped marker.
6. The novelty device of claim 1 and further comprising a tab for securing the neck portion of the inflatable balloon against the package.
7. The novelty device of claim 1 wherein an anaglyph image is printed on an inside of a first surface of the inflatable balloon.
8. The novelty device of claim 7 wherein a second surface of the inflatable balloon comprises a plurality of color filters for viewing the anaglyph image.
9. The novelty device of claim 1 and further comprising a music cartridge disposed within the package for playing an audible recording.
10. The novelty device of claim 1 and further comprising a light cartridge disposed within the package for illuminating the inflatable balloon.
11. The novelty device of claim 1 wherein the package is a mailable carton.
12. The novelty device of claim 1 and further comprising an unattached item enclosed in a lower end of the package.
13. A novelty device for displaying an image on an inflatable balloon comprising:
- an inflatable balloon flatly adhered to a printing backer, wherein the printing backer allows the inflatable balloon to be printed on and subsequently removed from the printing backer;
- a package with upper and lower ends wherein the upper and lower ends have closable flaps, wherein the package is adapted for storing the inflatable balloon therein when the inflatable balloon is in an uninflated state and allowing the inflatable balloon to extend outwardly therefrom when the inflatable balloon is in an inflated state;
- an attachable stand adapted to be attached to an outside portion of the package for holding the package in an upright position;
- a sealable valve adapted to be attached to the neck portion of the inflatable balloon for allowing air to pass therethrough and for securing air within the inflatable balloon.
14. A novelty device for displaying an image on an inflatable balloon comprising:
- a substantially opaque foil-film sheet having an anaglyph image printed on a first side thereof;
- a substantially translucent foil-film sheet superimposed on the substantially opaque foil-film sheet and melt-bonded at a peripheral portion of the first side wherein the substantially translucent foil-film sheet has a red-filtered viewing area and a green-filtered viewing area for viewing the anaglyph image; and
- a package for storing the inflatable balloon in an uninflated state.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 19, 2007
Publication Date: Oct 25, 2007
Inventor: Tien Pham (Malmo)
Application Number: 11/708,222
International Classification: A63H 27/10 (20060101);