REUSABLE BALLOON MULTI-FILL SYSTEM
Reusable balloon multi-fill system. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are balloon multi-fill systems including a hose-end adapter, a plurality of hoses coupled to the hose-end adapter, and a plurality of balloon nipples coupled to the hoses. Each balloon nipple includes: a frustum region distal to the connector; and a tubular region distal to the frustum region, the tubular region configured to hold an attached balloon open such that a sealing member of the balloon can lodge in the neck of the balloon.
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This application claims the benefit of provisional application Ser. No. 62/205,484 filed Aug. 14, 2015 titled, “Reusable Balloon Multi-Fill System,” which provisional application is incorporated by reference herein as if reproduced in full below.
BACKGROUNDWater balloons have been a fixture of summertime activities for decades. However, tying water balloons has always been a limiting factor in the number and how fast balloons can be filled. Recent technological advances have eliminated the tying problem, such as the innovative sealing capsule used by ZORBZ® brand water balloons available from KBIDC Investments, LLC, of Austin, Tex. The advent of sealing technology that does not require tying the balloons has spawned an industry of accessories for water balloons,
For a detailed description of various embodiments, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings in which:
Certain terms are used throughout the following description and claims to refer to particular system components. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, different companies may refer to a component by different names. This document does not intend to distinguish between components that differ in name but not function. In the following discussion and in the claims, the terms “including” and “comprising” are used in an open-ended fashion, and thus should be interpreted to mean “including, but not limited to . . . ” Also, the term “couple” or “couples” is intended to mean either an indirect or direct connection. Thus, if a first device couples to a second device, that connection may be through a direct connection or through an indirect connection via other devices and connections.
“Counter bore” shall mean to aperture leading to an internal volume. However, reference to such an aperture and internal volume as a “counter bore” shall not require that the aperture and internal volume be created by a drilling or boring action. Rather, the aperture and internal volume may be created by any suitable method, including molding, casting, milling, and drilling or boring.
“About” in reference a recited value shall mean the recited value +/−5% of the recited value.
DETAILED DESCRIPTIONThe following discussion is directed to various embodiments. Although one or more of these embodiments may be preferred, the embodiments disclosed should not be interpreted, or otherwise used, as limiting the scope of the disclosure, including the claims. In addition, one skilled in the art will understand that the following description has broad application, and the discussion of any embodiment is meant only to be exemplary of that embodiment, and not intended to intimate that the scope of the disclosure, including the claims, is limited to that embodiment.
The example multi-fill system 100 of
Returning to
The threaded adapter 102 also defines an outside annular or exterior surface 110 configured to be gripped as the multi-fill system 100 is threadingly coupled to an appropriate device. In the example of
Still considering the threaded adapter 102, attention is now directed to
The diameters of the fluid passages 406 are selected to limit the flow and pressure provided, ultimately, to self-sealing balloons coupled to the balloon nipples 106. In particular, in the United States water pressure at a home or commercial spigot may range from about 40 pounds per square inch gauge (PSIG) to about 60 PSIG or more. In order not to blow the hoses or the self-sealing balloons off the multi-fill systems when the water is initially turned on (e.g., to reduce “water hammer”), the diameters of the fluid passages 406 are selected to limit the flow and pressure applied to the hoses and the balloons during filling. In the example system the diameters of the fluid passages 406 are constant across all the fluid passages 406, and may range from 0.5 millimeters (mm) to 2.0 mm, inclusive, depending on the number of balloons to be simultaneously filled. In an example system designed to simultaneously fill 15 balloons, fluid passage diameters of 0.5 mm work well; however, larger diameters may be used for systems simultaneously filling greater numbers of balloons.
Returning briefly to
The frustum region 604 is distal to and abuts the connector 600. The frustum region 604 defines a conic frustum 608 with the narrow portion 606 proximate the connector 600, and a wide portion 610 opposite the narrow portion. Distal to and abutting the frustum region 604 is trough region 612. Trough region 612 comprises an annular trough 614 with a smallest outside diameter D smaller than the outside diameter of the wide portion 610. More detail regarding the trough region is provided in the elevation view of
Still referring to
Still referring to
The specification now turns to an example installation of a balloon over a balloon nipple to describe how the various features of the balloon nipple 106 are utilized.
Moreover, the frustum region 612 may also assist in holding the self-sealing balloon 200 on the balloon nipple 106 during filling. That is, the trough region 612 creates rib region 624 (
In the example system shown, a single fluid passage 618 is defined at the distal end of each balloon nipple 106. In the case of a single aperture defined by the single fluid passage 618, the single aperture may have a radius of about 0.75 mm (i.e., a diameter of about 1.5 mm). However, in other cases multiple apertures may be defined at the distal end of each balloon nipple 106. Whether a single aperture 618, or multiple aperture, the aperture(s) represent a flow area of about 1.76 mm2 (about 0.88 mm2 of flow area for each aperture for dual aperture setups). The inside diameter of the hoses 104 and the flow area into the balloons represented by the apertures in the nipples 106 may act to regulate the flow of the fluids into the balloon. For example, initially air trapped in the hoses 104 may be forced into the balloons when the water is forced into the threaded adapter 102, and the hoses 104 and nipples 106 help regulate the flow (to keep from blowing the balloons off the nipples 106). As the water starts to flow, the hoses 104 and nipples 106 help account for initially high water pressure (which initially may be 100 psig or more), again to reduce kinetic transfer of energy to the balloons and therefore reduce the instances of the balloons on the nipples being prematurely dislodged.
In use, the user obtains a plurality of ZORBZ® brand water balloons, and attaches the balloons one each onto respective balloon nipples 106 by telescoping the balloons over the balloon nipples 106. ZORBZ® brand water balloons have a neck region with a reduced diameter portion, and the reduced diameter portion is telescoped over the nipple at least as far as the conic frustum portion 602. Once each nipple of the multi-fill system has a balloon attached thereto, the water can be turned on while the multi-fill system is held with the threaded adapter above the balloons. The hoses are flexible, and as the balloons begin to fill, the central axis 620 of the balloon nipples 106 tend to align substantially with the force of gravity (which assists the sealing members 208 in the balloons to float to the neck for sealing). Once the proper amount of water is placed in each balloon, the water flow is stopped, and the multi-fill system is translated upward in a quick motion (impulse force applied), which separates the balloon nipples from the balloons and enables the capsules in the balloons to seat properly in the neck of the balloons. Thereafter the fun begins, and the multi-fill system can be reloaded with more ZORBZ® brand water balloons.
The above discussion is meant to be illustrative of the principles and various embodiments. Numerous variations and modifications will become apparent to those skilled in the art once the above disclosure is fully appreciated. For example, while the trough region may provide advantages in installation and holding the balloons, in other cases (e.g., smaller balloon volumes, balloons with thicker rubber), the trough region may be omitted and the balloon nipples comprise only the frustum region and the tubular region. It is intended that the following claims be interpreted to embrace all such variations and modifications.
Claims
1. A system comprising:
- a hose-end adapter comprising: a main body that defines an outside annular surface, a proximal side, a distal side, and a central axis; a counter bore within the main body along the central axis, the counter bore defines an inside diameter and an end wall; a plurality of hose nipples on the distal side of the main body; and a plurality of fluid passages through the end wall of the counter bore, the fluid passages extend one each through a hose nipple of the plurality of hose nipples;
- a plurality of hoses, each hose defines a proximal end, a distal end, a length, and internal flow lumen, the proximal end of each hose telescoped over hose nipple of the plurality of hose nipples;
- a plurality of balloon nipples coupled one each to the distal ends of plurality of hoses, each balloon nipple comprising: a connector on a proximal end of balloon nipple, the connector coupled to a respective hose of the plurality of hoses; a frustum region distal to the connector, the frustum region defines a conic frustum with a narrow portion disposed proximate to the connector, and a wide portion distal to narrow portion; a tubular region distal to the frustum region, the tubular region having an outside diameter smaller than the wide portion of the frustum region, the tubular region defines a constant outside diameter over at least a portion of a length of the tubular region; and a fluid passage defined at least in part along a central axis of the balloon nipple, at least a portion of the fluid passage defines a cross-sectional area configured to regulate flow of liquid through the fluid passage.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein each balloon nipple further comprises:
- a trough region disposed between the frustum region and the tubular region, the trough region defines an annular trough with a smallest diameter of the annular trough smaller than an outside diameter of the wide portion of the frustum region; and
- the annular trough has a profile with a radius of curvature greater than the outside diameter of the wide portion of the frustum region.
3. The system of claim 2 wherein the trough region further comprises:
- a length of about 4.35 millimeters (mm), the length measured along a central axis of the balloon nipple;
- a proximal diameter of about 7.2 mm, the upper diameter measured at the interface between the trough region and the frustum region; and a a distal diameter of about 7.00 mm.
4. The system of claim 1 further comprising threads on the inside diameter of the counter bore of the hose-end adapter.
5. The system of claim 1 wherein each fluid passage of the plurality of fluid passages through the end wall further comprises a diameter of between and including 0.5 millimeter (mm) and 2.0 mm.
6. The system of claim 1 wherein the length of each hose of the plurality of hoses is between and including 10 centimeters (cm) and 30 cm.
7. The system of claim 1 wherein the connector on the proximal end of each balloon nipple is telescoped within a respective hose of the plurality of hoses.
8. The system of claim 7 further comprising a shoulder region defined between the connector and the frustum region, the shoulder region has shoulder width, measured radially between an outside surface of the connector and the narrow portion of the frustum region, the shoulder width about equal to a thickness of the respective hose of the plurality of hoses.
9. The system of claim 1 wherein the frustum region further comprises:
- the narrow portion has a diameter of about 5.5 millimeters (mm);
- the wide portion has a diameter of about 7.2 mm: and the frustum region has a length of about 4 mm, the length measured along a central axis of the balloon nipple.
10. The system of claim 1 wherein the cross-sectional area of the portion of the fluid passage is about 1.76 square millimeters (mm2).
11. The system of claim 10 wherein each balloon nipple further comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of: a single aperture that defines the cross-sectional area of the portion of the fluid passage; and exactly two apertures that define the cross-sectional area of the portion of the fluid passage.
12. The system of claim her comprising fifteen hose nipples, hoses, and balloon nipples.
13. The system of claim 1 further comprising a means for gripping the outside annular surface of the main body.
14. The system of claim 13 wherein the means for gripping further comprises an annular trough defined by the annular surface of the main body. 15, The system of claim 13 wherein the means for gripping further comprises knurl defined on the annular surface of the main body.
16. The system of claim 15 wherein the annular surface further comprises an annular trough defined by the annular surface.
17. A method comprising:
- simultaneously filling a plurality of balloons by: installing a plurality of balloons one each over a plurality of nipples of a multi-fill header, each balloon having an internal sealing member, each balloon nipple of the plurality of nipples coupled a respective hose, and each balloon nipple comprising a frustum region and a trough region; applying fluid simultaneously to the plurality of balloons though the plurality of nipples; and maintaining each balloon of the plurality of balloons on its respective nipple by interaction of the balloon with the frustum and trough region;
- simultaneously disconnecting the plurality of balloons by an impulse force opposite the force of gravity.
18. The method of claim 17 wherein installing the plurality of balloons further comprises, for each balloon:
- telescoping a balloon over a nipple of the plurality of nipples; and then advancing the balloon further onto the nipple by user interaction with the trough region, the user interaction from a distal end of the trough toward a proximal end of the trough.
19. The method of claim 17 wherein simultaneously filling further comprises holding a neck of the balloon open during the filling by a tubular region to enable the sealing member to float into the neck of the balloon.
20. The method of claim 17 wherein applying fluid further comprising limiting the flow rate of fluid in each balloon by at least one selected from the group consisting of: flow area of passages from a hose-end adapter into the hoses; and flow area through a fluid passage of a balloon nipple.
21. A system comprising:
- a hose-end adapter comprising: a main body that defines an outside annular surface, a proximal side, a distal side, and a central axis; an annular trough on the outside annular surface; knurl disposed within the annular trough; a counter bore within the main body along the central axis, the counter bore defines an inside diameter and an end wall; threads on the inside diameter of the counter bore; a plurality of hose nipples on the distal side of the main body: and a plurality of fluid passages through the end wall of the counter bore, each fluid passage of the plurality of fluid passages extend one each through a hose nipple of the plurality of hose nipples, and each fluid passage of the plurality of fluid passages has a diameter of between and including 0.5 millimeter (mm) and 2.0 mm;
- a plurality of hoses, each hose of the plurality of hoses comprising: a proximal end, a distal end, and internal flow lumen; a length between and including 10 centimeters (cm) and 30 cm; and the proximal end of each hose telescoped over a hose nipple of the plurality of hose nipples;
- a plurality of balloon nipples coupled one each to the distal ends of the plurality of hoses, each balloon nipple comprising: a connector on a proximal end of the balloon nipple, the connector telescoped within the distal end of a respective hose of the plurality of hoses; a frustum region abutting the connector, the frustum region comprising: a conic frustum with a narrow portion disposed proximate to the connector, and a wide portion opposite the narrow portion; the narrow portion has a diameter of about 5.5 mm; the wide portion has a diameter of about 7.2 mm; and the frustum region has a length of about 4 mm, the length measured along a central axis of the balloon nipple; a shoulder region defined between the connector and the frustum region, the shoulder region has shoulder width, measured radially between an outside surface of the connector and the narrow portion of the frustum region, the shoulder width about equal to a thickness of the respective hose of the plurality of hoses: a trough region distal to and abutting the frustum region, the trough region comprising: an annular trough with a smallest diameter of the annular trough smaller than an outside diameter of the wide portion of the frustum region; a length of about 4.35 mm, the length of the trough region measured along the central axis of the balloon nipple; a proximal diameter of about 7.2 mm, the proximal diameter measured at the interface between the trough region and the frustum region; and a distal diameter of about 7.00 mm; and the annular trough has a radius about the same as the outside diameter of the wide portion of the frustum region; a tubular region distal to and abutting the trough region, the tubular region having an outside diameter smaller than the smallest diameter of the trough region, the tubular region defines a constant outside diameter over at least a portion of a length of the tubular region; and a nipple fluid passage defined at least in part along the central axis of the balloon nipple, at least a portion of the nipple fluid passage defines a cross-sectional area of about 1.76 mm2.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 11, 2016
Publication Date: Feb 16, 2017
Applicant: KBIDC Investments, LLC (Austin, TX)
Inventor: Kendall Harter (Spicewood, TX)
Application Number: 15/234,169