GB2093709A

GB2093709A - Closing balloons

Info

Publication number: GB2093709A
Application number: GB8105796A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1981-02-24
Filing date: 1981-02-24
Publication date: 1982-09-08

Abstract

Automatic apparatus for closing balloons comprises a mouthpiece (2) having a cylindrical receiving housing (4) and a hollow cylinder (5) concentric with the receiving housing, closing means (7) closing the hollow cylinder (5, 23) and squeezing hooking and securing means (11) for the balloon between this closing means (7) and the hollow cylinder (5). The invention finds its main application in the toy industry. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Means for closing balloons The invention concerns means for automatically closing balloons, especially balloons for children.

Devices for closing balloons for children are already known. The mouthpieces which be lona to t > .e prior art comprise two parts, one sliding within the other, and acting as a valve.

Such mouthpieces are however relatively complex and their cost price is relatively high.

Further, it is necessary to mount the mouthpiece in the balloon before inflating it, and this requires time and additional cost because of the special mounting. In fact the mounting of such mouthpieces is necessary because they can only be used placed inside the mouth of the balloon because of their design which takes the form of a valve. Further, it is necessary to use an automatic machine to inflate the balloon and to install the mouthpiece within the mouth of the balloon.

Another disadvantage results from the complexity of these already-known mouthpieces; this disadvantage is a commercial one, it resides in the fact that only helium or a similar gas can be used to inflate the balloons because of the extremely high manufacturing cost of the mouthpiece.

The object of the present invention is to remedy these defects and it is proposed to provide an automatic closure apparatus for balloons, of simple conception, very easy to install, and having a very low manufacturing cost.

The present invention also has for its object the provision of an automatic closure for balloons which function as well with air as with gas.

Finally, the object of this invention is to provide an automatic closure apparatus for balloons which does not require mounting in advance in the neck of the balloon or a great deal of time to install. The invention thus concerns an automatic device for closing balloons, especially balloons for children, characterised in that it comprises a mouthpiece having, in its upper part, a cylindrical receiving housing, open at the top, its lower part comprising a hollow cylinder concentric with the receiving housing, a closing means for closing the hollow cylinder and engaging hooking and securing means for the balloon between this closing means and the hollow cylinder and engaging hooking and securing means for the balloon between this closing means and the hollow cylinder, this closing means opening into the receiving housing in the form of a loop.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the bottom of the receiving housing for the mouth of the balloon is pierced by an orifice for the passage of the means for hooking and securing the balloon and the folded over neck of the balloon.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the means for closing the hooking and securing means of the balloon is a hollow stopper.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the means of engaging and securing the neck of the balloon is a cord forming a loop at the level of the housing for receiving the mouthpiece to squeeze and close the neck of the balloon, the two strands of the cord traversing the orifice of the mouthpiece-receiving housing and lodging in the hollow cylinder of the mouthpiece at the base of which they re-emerge acting as traction means for the automatic closing of the inflated balloon and as gripping means for the transport of this balloon.

Finally, according to another characteristic of the invention the stopper is attached to the hollow cylinder of the mouthpiece by fastening means.

The present invention will be better understood with the help of an embodiment of an automatic closing means according to the invention, shown schematically, by way of non-limiting example, in the attached drawings in which: Figure 1 is a partial longitudinal section of the apparatus, Figure 2 is a partial longitudinal section of a second form of the apparatus.

According to Fig. 1, the apparatus 1 is shown unmounted. It includes a mouthpiece 2. This mouthpiece is provided at its upper part 3 with a cylindrical receiving housing 4 open at the top, capable of receiving the neck of a balloon. The mouthpiece 2 is provided, at its lower part 5, with an open hollow cylinder 6 at its base. The hollow cylinder 5 is concentric with the receiving housing 4. The apparatus 1 also includes a closing means constituted by a stopper 7 closing the hollow cylinder 5. This stopper is also open at its base. In this particular construction, the upper extremity 8 of the stopper 7 is closed.The bottom 9 is also provided with a central orifice 10 permitting the means for engaging and securing the balloon, constituted by the cord 11, to cross the mouthpiece 2 by forming a loop; the strands 1 2 and 1 3 of the cord 11 being gripped between the hollow cylinder 5 and the stopper 7 in order to re-emerge laterally at the level of the lower extremity 6 of the hollow cylinder 5 when a balloon is not fitted.

In this first embodiment, the stopper 7 is attached to the hollow cylinder 5 by a fastening 14.

This apparatus functions in the following manner. The balloon is put in position to be inflated; the neck of the balloon is thus placed in the loop formed by the cord 11, then the strands 1 2 and 1 3 are pulled, in order to make the cord slide across the orifice 1 0. By this pulling movement the loop of the string 11 tightens and grips tightly the neck of the inflated balloon. After pulling, the neck folds over on itself and enters the hollow cylinder ensuring the closing and sealing of the balloon.

According to Fig. 2, the apparatus 20 is shown when in use. This apparatus comprises the same elements as those previously described with the exception of the fastening means attaching the stopper to the hollow cylinder. Thus, the apparatus 20 comprises a mouthpiece 21 consisting of an upper part 22 forming the receiving housing and a lower part 23 forming a hollow cylinder. The base 26 is provided with a central orifice 22.

According to this Fig. 2, the neck 27 of the balloon 28 has first been placed in the loop of the cord 29. By pulling on the strands 30 and 31 of the cord, the loop 29 has closed and has pulled the neck 27 of the balloon across the orifice 32, the neck 27 lodging in the hollow cylinder 23.The cord 29, forming a loop, is displaced as a result of this traction on the strands 30 and 31, to the interior of a hollow cylinder 23. The strands 30, 31 have thus permitted the automatic closing and sealing of the balloon 28 while acting as gripping means for transporting the balloon.

Claims

1. Device for automatically closing balloons, especially balloons for children, characterised in that it comprises a mouthpiece (2, 21) having in its upper part (3, 22) a cylindrical receiving housing (4) open at the top, its lower part (5, 23) being constituted by a hollow cylinder concentric with the receiving housing (4), closing means (7, 24) closing the hollow cylinder (5, 23) and engaging a hooking and securing means (11, 29) of the balloon between this closing means (7, 24) and the hollow cylinder (5, 23), this closing means opening into the receiving housing (4) in the form of a loop.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterised in that the base (9, 26) of the receiving housing (4, 22) for the neck of the balloon is pierced by an orifice (10, 32) for the passage of the hooking and securing means (11, 29) for the balloon (28) and for the folded-over neck of the balloon.

3. Apparatus according to the preceeding claims 1 and 2, characterised in that the closing means (7, 24) of the hooking and securing means (11, 29) for the balloon is a hollow stopper.

4. Apparatus according to any of the proceeding claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the hooking and securing means (11, 29) is a cord forming a loop at the level of the receiving housing (4, 22) of the mouthpiece (2, 21) to grip and close the neck (27) of the balloon (28), the two strands (12, 13), (30, 31) of the cord (11, 29) crossing the orifice (10, 32) of the receiving housing (4, 22) of the mouthpiece (2, 21) and lodging in the hollow cyliner (5, 23) of the mouthpiece (2, 21) at the base of which they re-emerge acting as traction means for the automatic closing of the inflated balloon and as gripping means for the transport of this balloon.

5. Apparatus according to any of the proceeding claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the stopper (7) is attached to the hollow cylinder (5) of the mouthpiece (2) by attachment means (14).