Abstract: A balloon stuffing system (25, 25') including a tubular member (26) open at one end (28) thereof and defining a chamber (31) capable of receiving the object (34) to be stuffed into a balloon (35); a hollow, tubular, piston-like ejector rod (29) passing through the opposite end (30) of the tubular member (26); and, wherein provision is made for coupling the axial bore (58) extending through the hollow, tubular, piston-like ejector rod (29), and therefore the chamber (31) in the tubular member (26) and the balloon (35) secured thereto, to a source of inflation medium by either: (i) attaching a mouthpiece (84) to the projecting end of the ejector rod (29) so as to permit pressurization of the chamber (31) and the interior of the balloon (35) by blowing through the mouthpiece (84); or (ii), coupling the hollow, tubular, piston-like ejector rod (29) to a conventional hand-held, hand-operated air inflation pump (41, 41'); and, wherein the ejector rod (29) may be selectively: (a) unlatched from the pump housing (42)

Abstract: A remote control lighter-than-air toy apparatus has an inflatable container having a predetermined shape, such as the shape of a dirigible, for holding a lighter-than-air gas. A gondola is removably attached to the inflatable container and has a shaft extending therethrough and rotably supported thereon. A reversible electric motor is attached to each end portion of the shaft passing through the gondola with each electric motor having a propeller attached thereto for rotation upon actuation of the electric motor. Each of the electric motors and propellers are fixedly attached to the shaft. A tether line is formed of a plurality of conductors, each connected at one end to one of the electric motors and connected at the other end to a control box having a plurality of controls thereon for remotely controlling each motor separately, so that a lighter than air toy can be remotely controlled with two propellers.

Abstract: Disclosed are one-piece, funnel shaped balloon holders, comprising a conical cup and a hollow cylindrical stem. A longitudinal slit extends the entire length of the balloon holder, from the upper edge of the cup to the lower end of the stem, to permit insertion of the neck of a balloon into the holder. A short slot at the bottom of the stem anchors the balloon tail. In a first embodiment (FIGS. 1-3), a balloon stick is inserted into the hollow stem. In a second embodiment (FIGS. 4-8) the stem is inserted into one end of a hollow balloon stick. The stem in this embodiment is of such shape as to provide space between the stem and the balloon stick for a portion of the balloon neck so that the entire balloon neck is concealed.

Abstract: A gas-inflatable bladder toy is disclosed, in which a plurality of films are stacked with their peripheral edges being sealed for forming a bladder to be inflated by filling a required pressure gas therein, said bladder being adapted to be fed with an external gas and provided with an air valve in a flat double cylindrical form for checking an internal gas, or alternatively in which the same construction of the bladder contains a plurality of receiving bags separately receiving certain foaming agents which are chemically reacted upon mixing to produce a gas, these filling bags being broken by an external force. In accordance with the gas-inflatable bladder toy of the invention, the shape of the receiving body containing the preexpanded bladder 1 may be quite different from the shape of the expanded bladder 1 after opening the receiving body 7 and expanding to the given shape, thereby to provide an exciting bladder toy with a surprising effect.

Abstract: A balloon closure head for mounting a balloon and a lamp for illuminating the balloon, as well as apparatus for conducting air to inflate and deflate the balloon and apparatus for conducting electricity to the lamp. The conducting apparatus employs needle nose piercing elements which pierce supply channels for both gas and electricity carried by rectangular conduits sealably clamped to the closure head. In one embodiment, a single pair of conductive hollow needle nose piercing elements and cooperating non-return valves supply both gas for the balloon and electricity for the lamp.

Abstract: Balloon holder for toy balloons. The balloon holder of the invention has a cup and a stem. The latter for insertion into one end of a hollow balloon stick. The stem is of such shape that the neck of the balloon is completely concealed between the stem and the balloon stick. The preferred stem is generally cylindrical with an interior channel and an exterior cutaway portion for downwardly extending an upwardly extending portions, respectively of the neck. A vertical slit in the cup permits rapid insertion of a balloon neck into the balloon holder.

Abstract: A musical balloon has an electronic music-producing device contained within an inner, nearly opaque balloon. An outer balloon of any desired color and design, more light transmissive than the inner balloon, covers the inner balloon. The electronic music-producing device includes an on/off switch sensitive to light. When the balloons are deflated, the rubber material is dense enough to keep light from activating the music. However, when the balloons are inflated, the rubber material is stretched to a more translucent condition, and sufficient light permeates the balloons to activate the switch and the music.

Abstract: An ascending and descending balloon action toy includes an envelope filled with a lighter-then-air gas, the envelope repeatedly ascending and alternately descending a tether.

Abstract: Disclosed is a cap plug for a balloon which includes a body mounted on a mouth portion of a balloon, an attachment connected to the body through a detachable connecting means and a yarn for connecting the body and the attachment. The connecting means has four outwardly directed engaging pawls provided on the body and an engaging groove provided in the attachment and engageable with the engaging pawls. The desired connection is achieved by moving each of the engaging pawls into the corresponding engaging groove, and relatively rotating the attachment and the body to bring the engaging pawl into firm engagement with the engaging groove. The engagement between the body and the attachment is released by rotation thereof in a direction opposite to that when they are connected.

Abstract: A balloon support is described which has a concave support part provided with at least one lateral opening and a fixing sleeve connected to the support part. An object of the invention is to provide a support of this type which permits contralized positioning of the balloon on the support. According to the invention, one lateral opening is connected to a bottom opening in the support part by a cut or slit, the support part being connected to the fixing sleeve by at least two connecting ribs.

Abstract: A toy includes an envelope having inside a rigid tubular member connected to the inner side of its wall and rod with a helical groove held by the tubular member in an axially movable position. The rod is passed through an opening of a transverse plate fixed to the tubular member and the helical groove is engaged with cam edges projected into the opening, thereby the rod will move upward and downward simultaneously with a rotating movement.

Abstract: A composition and method and apparatus for increasing the buoyant lifetime of a gas inflatable elastomeric balloon wherein a surface of a balloon is coated with an aqueous solution containing 3 to 50 percent polyvinyl alcohol, and up to 20 percent of a water soluble plasticizer for polyvinyl alcohol such as glycerine, which coating is dried while the balloon is in the inflated condition. Treatment of a rubber latex balloon having an inflated diameter of about 15 cm to about 50 cm by the method of this invention can increase its buoyant lifetime about 600 percent without significantly changing the appearance of the balloon.

Abstract: A balloon distress marker wherein the balloon has, in a wall thereof, a small compartment interiorly of the balloon and accessible through an aperture in the wall of the balloon for retaining an article therein. The compartment is substantially smaller than the volumne of the balloon and is useable for interconnecting balloons in series or inserting a flashlight therein to illuminate the balloon. A coupling for interconnecting balloons is preferably a small balloon in itself which can be inflated when in the compartment. A two-part balloon wherein the two parts are interconnected by a narrow neck portion rendering the marker useable as a life preserver. A rescue kit consisting of a casing having a removable top that can be illuminated by flashlights in the cap. Located within the container is a cylinder containing lighter-than-air gas for inflating the balloon.

Abstract: A toy balloon has an inflation valve secured thereon to selectively fill a chamber of the balloon with a fluid, such as helium. The valve comprises a stem defining a filling passage therethrough for communicating a pressurized fluid source with the inflatable chamber of the balloon and an elastomeric plug reciprocally mounted in the passage for movement in a first direction towards the chamber to openly communicate the passage with the chamber to permit filling thereof and for further movement in a second, opposite direction away from the chamber to seal the passage to prevent escape of the fluid from the balloon. The inner surface of the stem and/or the outer surface of the elastomeric plug may be suitably sized and tapered to permit the sleeve to compress the plug for sealing purposes when it is moved in its second closing direction. An annular bead may be formed internally on the sleeve to compress the plug to form an annular static seal between the sleeve and the plug.

Abstract: There is provided a pneumatic amusement device formed of heat sealable plastic and characterized by an inflatable, ball-like central portion, and a flexible equatorial girdle or rim. An inlet is provided into the cavity and means for plugging the inlet. The device is formed of discs of heat sealable plastic material.

Abstract: A system for automatically filling and launching balloons which may be used, for example, for cloud seeding. The system includes a balloon launching station frame, a nozzle mounted on the frame onto which the narrow end of a balloon can be attached so that gas can flow through the nozzle into the balloon, a conduit coupled to a source of gas and to the nozzle for delivering gas through the nozzle into the balloon, gas flow control apparatus responsive to first signals for controlling the flow of gas through the conduit, and a release mechanism responsive to second signals for disengaging the balloon from the nozzle to thereby release the balloon to the atmosphere. For launching a series of balloons, the system may include a plurality of nozzles, conduits, gas flow control mechanisms, and release mechanisms arranged so that after one balloon is filled and released, a second balloon may be filled and launched at a selectable time thereafter, etc.

Abstract: An airborne, free floating, lift-weight, balanced balloon having a closed envelope encompassing a fixed volume of lighter-than-air gas has ballast means fixed on the bottom of the envelope to tend to balance the weight of the balloon to equal the lifting effect of the gas, and to tend to cause the balloon to float in a desired horizontal attitude. At least one ballast member or a pair of ballast members form part of the ballast means and are fixed to the bottom of the balloon in symmetrical relationship to a vertical plane passing through the central horizontal axis of the balloon, ballast member(s) being constituted as a plurality of pressure sensitive removable weight control modules also arranged symmetrically with respect to a vertical plane passing through the central horizontal axis of the balloon when the balloon is in its desired attitude. These weight control modules are removed one or two at a time in order to balance the weight of the balloon so that it will float at a desired altitude.

Abstract: A balloon target game apparatus including an inflated balloon and a throwable article for throwing at the inflated balloon utilizes a grit-covered, abrasive surface for bursting the balloon upon contact with the balloon when the balloon is struck by the throwable article. In one aspect of the invention, the abrasive surface is defined by a surface of the throwable article. In another aspect of the invention, the game apparatus includes a backing article, and the abrasive surface is defined by a surface of the backing article. The backing article is positionable in relationship to the inflated balloon so that when the balloon is struck by the throwable article, the balloon is moved into contact with the abrasive surface.

Abstract: An inflatable game device comprising an inflatable body including a ballast to maintain the inflatable body in a normal attitude, and including a pocket adapted to receive an object. The pocket is integrally formed with the body and includes a constricted portion to facilitate retention of the object in the pocket once received.

Abstract: A system for automatically filling and launching balloons which may be used, for example, for cloud seeding. The system includes a balloon launching station frame, a nozzle mounted on the frame onto which the narrow end of a balloon can be attached so that gas can flow through the nozzle into the balloon, a conduit coupled to a source of gas and to the nozzle for delivering gas through the nozzle into the balloon, gas flow control apparatus responsive to first signals for controlling the flow of gas through the conduit, and a release mechanism responsive to second signals for disengaging the balloon from the nozzle to thereby release the balloon to the atmosphere. For launching a series of balloons, the system may include a plurality of nozzles, conduits, gas flow control mechanisms, and release mechanisms arranged so that after one balloon is filled and released, a second balloon may be filled and launched at a selectable time thereafter, etc.

Abstract: A new article dropping tow consists of a suitably buoyant body or the like, such as a gas-filled balloon, carrying one or more releasable articles, such as a glider, a toy parachutist or a bomb, retained on the buoyant body by, for example a hook on one engaged in an opening in the other, arranged to release automatically when the upwardly-moving body suddenly changes its vertical movement, e.g. by bumping against an overhead surface, such as the ceiling of a room in which the toy is released, or by reaching the end of its tether string, or by the operator jerking on the string. The release is then effected by the movement of the body which disengages the article and allows it to drop.

Abstract: An inflatable novelty device of multiple flexible sheets sealed in regions to form a hollow inflatable peripheral body member in a general horseshoe configuration, the central portion forming a non-inflatable hand pocket cavity. Inflatable outwardly extending appendages may be contiguous with the inflatable peripheral body portion to provide shapes representing "No. 1", "V for victory" and the like. The inflated novelty devices may be worn on one or both hands and still allow clapping and other use of the hand or hands by the wearer. Such novelty devices are used at a wide variety of promotional events, sporting events, political conventions, and the like.

Abstract: A game with inflatable bodies includes at least two inflatable bodies, a supporting element for supporting said inflatable bodies, and a breaking element arranged so that upon reaching s certain degree of inflation by the respective inflatable body it breaks by contact with the breaking element.