EP0105179A1 - Closure member for a toy balloon with retaining means for a balloon stick - Google Patents

Abstract

The closure element for the gas-tight closure of a toy balloon (6), especially a balloon welded from plastic film blanks, has a means for attaching a stick and a closure part for the filling spout of the balloon. The closure element comprises a cover part (2) having at least one cut-out (3) and a bearing part (1) having at least one projection (4), which is assigned to the cut-out (3) of the cover part (2) and is dimensioned in such a way that it can be inserted in a clamping manner into the cut-out (3) of the cover part (2) with interposition of the filling spout (9) of a balloon (16), and an attachment (12) for a retaining means (13, 19) which is arranged on at least one of the two closure parts (bearing part 1 or cover part 2) (Fig. 9). <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to a closure element for gas-tight sealing of a toy balloon, in particular a balloon welded from plastic film blank, with a means for fastening a holding rod and a closing part for the filling nozzle of the balloon.

A closure element of the type described at the outset is known from US Pat. No. 3,900,989 with FIGS. 9 to 12 for balloons made of an elastic toy balloon, in particular made of a rubber material. The gas-tight closure of such balloons made of a rubber-elastic material generally presents no difficulties, since after filling the balloon with balloon gas or air it is sufficient to clamp the filler nozzle between the cover part and the support part of the known closure element due to the elasticity of the material. Due to the rubber-elastic properties of the balloon material and the compression of the two parts of the closure element occurring strains results in a sufficiently gas-tight closure.

Recently, such toy balloons have also been welded together from blanks made of inextensible plastic film. Closing the filling nozzle after filling such a balloon in a conventional manner, for example by tying a knot into the filling nozzle, is not possible since, due to the lack of elasticity of the material, even after the knot has been tightened, small channels remain through which the balloon gas then escapes and the balloon loses its buoyancy after a short time. Due to the lack of elasticity of the material, the balloon also loses its shape and has an unsightly crumpled appearance. Tying the filling nozzle with a cord after the filling process also has the same disadvantages.

A closure with the closure element previously known from US Pat. No. 3,900,989 does not lead to the desired result, since the closure must be attached with great care in order to avoid any longitudinal folds in the area of the filler nozzle. Closing requires considerable manual skill in order to fill such balloons in the shortest possible time and to make them ready for sale by clamping them off with the known closure element. With the known closure element, a gas-tight closure is not always guaranteed, since the seller has to press the closure element on with one hand while filling the balloon, while holding the filler nozzle on the gas bottle with the other hand and then closing the valve of the gas bottle. There is therefore no possibility of pinching the filler with wrinkle-free with sufficient security when attaching the closure element.

For some time now, due to safety regulations for balloon gas, it has been stipulated that it must be non-flammable, so that only helium or helium mixtures can be used as balloon gas. Due to the relatively high price of helium, toy balloons as well as advertising balloons have started to be filled with air. In order to give the toy balloon a look that is typical of the usual "floating" of a balloon even when it is filled with air, balloons made of a rubber-elastic material have been used to hang the balloon with its knot in a corresponding loop of a holding wire , wherein the upper end of the retaining wire runs into a support ring which surrounds the area of the balloon adjacent to the filling nozzle. Since the knot of the filling nozzle is hooked into the holding loop of the wire under a certain pretension, the balloon on the support ring is "held up" with respect to the holding wire. However, such a technique is not possible with balloons that are welded from inextensible plastic film, since the required pretension between the holding loop and the support ring is not possible here because of the lack of elasticity of the balloon material.

Because of the difficulties of sealing the filling nozzle tightly after filling, air-filled balloons have already been filled with air by the manufacturer or wholesaler, and the filling nozzle has to be attached to a holding rod with the help of an adhesive tape, whereby the adhesive tape also functions of the "closing part" takes over. The filling spout is pulled through a support element which is open in a funnel shape towards the balloon and which surrounds the wall area of the balloon adjoining the filling spout. The filled balloons are then shipped packed in boxes. Despite the low weight, there is a large transport volume and accordingly expensive packaging. A further disadvantage is that the receiver has no possibilities to refill a balloon if air escapes from the balloon body during the transport and storage time when the filling nozzle is not attached to the holding rod. Even slight volume losses lead to a wrinkled appearance in such welded balloons, as stated above, so that the recipient can no longer sell such balloons. The fixing of the already filled balloon on the holding rod with the help of an adhesive tape is very labor-intensive and must be carried out very carefully to ensure a perfect seal of the filling nozzle. Even if you weld the filler nozzle after filling with a film welder before attaching it to the support rod, the assembly of the balloon on the support rod still remains relatively time-consuming. In the event of errors in the welding of the filling nozzle, the user is also deprived of any opportunity to refill the balloon.

The invention has for its object to provide a closure element of the type mentioned, which considerably simplifies the assembly of the balloon on the holding rod, the filling and the closing of the filler nozzle, in particular on balloons made of inextensible films.

This object is achieved according to the invention by a cover part with at least one recess and a support part with at least one projection associated with the recess of the cover part, which is dimensioned such that it can be inserted into the recess of the cover part by clamping the filling nozzle of the balloon, and at least one Approach for a holding means, which is arranged on at least one of the closure parts (support part or cover part). A closure element designed in this way has the advantage that when it is clamped onto the filling nozzle of the filled balloon, it is clamped without wrinkles and thus seals gas-tight.

In particular for the balloons made of inextensible film mentioned above, it is expedient if the recess is slot-shaped and the projection is web-shaped, since the filler nozzle has a pronounced two-dimensional orientation due to the welded edges of the two film parts connected to one another, so that when such is clamped on : trained closure element on the filler a wrinkle-free, flat contact of the walls of the filler against each other and thus a gas-tight seal is guaranteed. Another advantage of the closure element according to the invention is that it can already be clamped onto the filling nozzle of the balloon when it is still connected to the filling element of the gas supply. In this way it is possible to inflate the balloon with the greatest possible gas, i.e. to close without loss of pressure. It is important in the case of balloons made of inextensible film that the projection extends essentially transversely to the orientation of the holding means and the filling nozzle, since the "seat" of the filling nozzle in the closure element remains wrinkle-free even when it is opened repeatedly.

In an embodiment of the invention it is provided that the support part and cover part have at their end facing away from the approach for the holding means a support surface for the balloon, which is inclined to the level of the support part or cover part, so that when the closure element is closed, the support surfaces approximately V -aligned to each other. The support surfaces give the balloon in the transition area between the filling nozzle and the balloon body an additional stabilization, which in particular when filling such balloons with air and a rod or wire as holding means offers the same visual impression as a balloon filled with balloon gas and fastened to a cord.

In an embodiment of the invention it is provided that the approach is tubular for receiving a holding rod or rod-shaped for fastening a holding wire, so that such a closure element can also be used for those applications in which such a balloon with air instead of balloon gas due to safety regulations must be provided.

In a further embodiment of the invention, an additional snap lock between the support part and the holding part is finally provided to secure against unintentional opening.

A preferred embodiment is characterized by a tube that can be inserted into the filler nozzle, at least one clamping element that at least partially encompasses the filler nozzle with inserted tube, with means for fastening the holding rod, and a valve element that is connected to the filler nozzle. Such a closure element has the advantage that a rigid mouthpiece is available for the filling process by inserting a tube into the filler spout, the clamping of the filler spout with the tube inserted by the clamping element in turn at least for the filling process, the required seal between the Pipe outer wall and filler is created and, moreover, there is already a connection with the holding rod. Since a valve element connected to the filling nozzle is also provided, a toy balloon to be filled with air can be pre-assembled in the factory but packed and shipped unfilled with the aid of such a closure element. The dimensionally stable tube, which also serves as a filling mouthpiece, allows the user to easily fill the balloon with conventional compressed air generators with a slight increase in pressure. The balloon filling is held by the arrangement of the valve element. If the air filling escapes partially during a longer storage period, for example in sales stands in a retail store or after a longer playing time, the valve element offers the possibility of refilling the balloon. This not only improves the marketability, but also increases the service life of a balloon equipped in this way.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is characterized in that a base plate is provided, on which a claw-shaped clamping element is arranged around the filling nozzle with inserted tube at one end and on the other end facing the balloon, the filling nozzle with a distance from the inserted end of the Tube flat pinching valve element is arranged. Such a closure element simplifies handling during the filling process considerably, since the pre-assembled balloon can be held with the free end of the tube with one hand at the mouth of the compressed air source, while with the other hand after filling with the help of the valve element, the filling nozzle is sealed can be. Should the filled balloon lose air slightly during longer storage or later use, the valve element can be opened again in a simple manner Refill the balloon and close it again. Since only very low air pressures are required for filling, in particular when used in conjunction with balloons made of inextensible film, the subsequent filling can also be carried out with the mouth, since the overpressure that can be achieved here is completely sufficient to fill such a balloon.

In a preferred embodiment it is provided that the valve element is provided with a cover part which has a slot-shaped recess, to which a supporting part fastened to the base plate is assigned, which has a closing web which is assigned to the recess of the cover part and is dimensioned such that it is at Intermediate layer of the filling nozzle of the balloon to be closed can be inserted by clamping into the recess of the cover part and that the front edge of the closing web assigned to the cover part has a curved course with respect to its longitudinal extent. This special shape for the valve element ensures that when the supporting part is pressed into the recess of the cover part to close the balloon, the inflated filling nozzle of the balloon is automatically drawn smooth due to the curved front edge of the closing web, so that the filling nozzle is clamped in the valve element without creases and thus a tight seal is guaranteed. The curved course of the front edge of the closing web suitably corresponds to an arc.

In a preferred embodiment it is further provided that the recess in the cover part is box-shaped in the valve element and its longitudinal walls run parallel to the longitudinal surfaces of the closing web. This configuration further promotes the smooth pulling of the filling nozzle when the closing web is pressed into the recess. In addition, the area trapped by the valve element is enlarged and the sealing effect ver improves.

In a further embodiment of the invention it is further provided that the bottom of the box-shaped recess in the valve element has a profile corresponding to the curved profile of the front edge of the closing web. If one measures the depth of the box-shaped recess in the cover part with respect to the height of the closing web on the support part so that, when compressed, there is practically no space between the bottom of the recess and the front edge of the closing web, the reliability of the shape will be such Sealing still improved.

In a valve element in which the cover part and the support part are made of a plastic and are connected at one end by a hinge band made of plastic, it is provided in a preferred embodiment of the invention that the hinge band is based on the folded valve element, in each case at a distance from one another facing surfaces of the cover part and support part is attached. This arrangement of the hinge band ensures that when the cover part and the support part are pressed together by the hinge band, a tensile force in the closing direction between the two parts of the valve element is effective in the hinge area. and as a result, the same clamping force is also applied in this area as in the area of the two parts of the valve element facing away from the hinge band by the locking means usually provided there.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is further provided that the clamping element has a claw-like receiving part fastened to the base plate, the receiving claws of which grip around the filler nozzle with the tube inserted, and also preferably in the area the receiving claws has the filling spout from the other side overlapping securing part which is designed to be fixable on the base plate. Due to the receiving claws of the clamping element, the filling nozzle with the inserted tube is practically kept tight on it, so that the balloon can be filled via the tube and the valve element can then be closed. In particular in connection with a valve element of the type described above, the closure element according to the invention is very easy to handle, with any leaks in the area between the filling nozzle, inserted tube and receiving claws of the clamping element being of no importance, since with this form of the valve element the filling nozzle is direct and independent is closed by the inserted tube.

Expediently, the claw-like receiving part, viewed in the longitudinal direction of the tube, has two pairs of receiving claws next to one another at a distance and furthermore at least one securing element which crosses the filler spout between the pairs of claws. This has the advantage that the inserted tube is held in a predetermined orientation on the closure element and can accordingly be dimensioned so long in a further embodiment of the invention that it also serves as a holding rod.

In an embodiment of the invention, it is further provided that the clamping element consists of two half-shells forming a piece of pipe, which are designed so that they can be fixed around one another with the inserted pipe. In a further embodiment, it is expedient that arranged, preferably deformable webs running on the inner surface of the half-shells transverse to the tube axis. This ensures that the filling nozzle is pressed firmly and thus tightly onto the inserted tube and so, for example, the valve element can be connected directly to the tube during the sealing between the filling nozzle and the pipe via the clamped pipe section.

It is also expedient that at least that part of the tube which can be inserted into the filler nozzle has an outer diameter which corresponds to the inner diameter of the filler nozzle. This ensures that in the clamping area the filling nozzle is practically wrinkle-free on the outer circumference of the inserted tube and thus a reliable seal is ensured by the respective clamping elements.

In another embodiment, in particular in cases in which the tube to be inserted also serves as a holding rod, it is provided that the end of the tube facing away from the balloon is provided with a valve. This results in simple handling of a pre-assembled balloon when filling and also simplification when refilling by the user. The valve is expediently formed by a lip valve pushed into the tube opening. This has the advantage that a reliable valve closure is achieved because the lips of the valve have the sufficient closing force required here, because the pressure of the balloon filling in balloons made of inextensible film, in contrast to balloons made of a rubber-elastic material, is not sufficient to withstand the balloons rubber-elastic material known check valves to close.

In another embodiment of the invention it is provided that the valve is formed by a stopper which is held displaceably on the free pipe end and is preferably made of elastic material and which has a filling opening which closes by further displacement against the pipe end.

In a further embodiment of the invention, support elements are provided on the closure element, which partially encompass the already bulging wall area of the balloon adjoining the filling nozzle. This ensures that such a balloon is maintained in the intended position even when filled with air and when a holding rod is used. The support elements can be formed by appropriate extensions on the clamping elements or on the parts of the valve elements, depending on the construction used. If, according to a further embodiment of the invention, the clamping element can be displaced axially with respect to the tube inserted into the filling nozzle and the filling piece is clamped on the tube, it is furthermore expedient that the tube piece widens in a funnel shape towards the balloon body as a supporting element.

The invention is explained in more detail with reference to schematic drawings of exemplary embodiments. Show it:

• Figure 1 shows a closure element in a front view.
• FIG. 2 shows the closure element according to FIG. 1 in a top view;
• Fig. 3 shows the sections A-A and B-B corresponding to Figure 1 through the support member and cover part.
• FIG. 4 shows the closure part according to FIG. 1 with the filling nozzle clamped in section;
• FIG. 5 shows a top view of the arrangement according to FIG. 4;
• 6 shows another embodiment for a closure element;
• FIG. 7 shows a side view of the closure element according to FIG. 6;
• FIG. 8 shows a closure element according to FIG. 6 with the filling nozzle clamped in;
• 9 shows an embodiment for a closure element with an attachment for connection to a holding stick;
• 10 shows a vertical section through the embodiment according to FIG. 9;
• 11 shows an embodiment with an approach for connection to a holding wire;
• 12 is a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 11th
• 13 shows a first embodiment with a tube designed as a holding rod and valve element at the lower end,
• 14 on a larger scale an embodiment for a valve element,
• Fig. 15 on a larger scale another embodiment; shape for a valve element,
• 16 shows a further embodiment for a closure element,
• 17 shows an embodiment corresponding to FIG. 16 with a differently designed valve element,
• 18 is an enlarged representation of a further embodiment for a closure element,
• 19 a closure element according to FIG. 18 with length-adjustable base plate,
• 20 a closure element in the manner of a rolling ring seal,
• Fig. 21 shows a closure element with a clamping slide.

The embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in a front view and in a top view for a closure element is formed in two parts and consists of a support part 1 and a cover part 2. The cover part 2 is provided with a slot-shaped recess 3, which is on the support part 1 a corresponding projection 4 is assigned. Support part 1 and cover part 2 are formed by a hinge-like connection 5 foldable against each other. The closure element is expediently made of a plastic, so that the hinge-like connection 5 in a known manner consists of a correspondingly thin-walled narrow connecting strip between the support part 1 and cover part 2, as can be seen from the supervision according to FIG. 2. On the supporting part 1 there is also an extension 6 for a holding means, here in the form of an eyelet, into which a cord (20) can be knotted.

As can be seen from the sectional view according to FIG. 3, the recess 3 in the cover part 2 is designed such that its cross section on the insertion side 7 for the projection 4 has a somewhat smaller cross section than on the side 8 facing away from the projection 4 a slightly larger one Cross-section so that a positive connection is guaranteed when the projection 4 is pressed into the recess 3. The material for the closure element or the shape for the recess 3 or the projection 4 are provided so that at least one of these two clamping elements (projection 3 or recess 4) is elastically deformable, so that here after pressing the projection 4 into the Recess 3 press the walls of the recess 3 against the associated walls of the projection 4.

To close the filler nozzle 9 of a balloon, as shown in dashed lines in Fig. 3, between the support part 1 and cover part 2 of the closure element and pressed together so that, as can be seen from the sectional view of FIG. 4, the filler nozzle 9 from the projection 4 is pressed into the recess 3 and is thus clamped between the support part and the cover part 2 with multiple deflection. 5 shows a top view of the cover part 2 of a closed filler nozzle of a balloon welded from foil. As can be seen from the top view, the flat orientation of the filler neck for the closure process is predetermined by the two weld seams 10 on the edge of the filler neck 9. It also follows from this that the recess 3 in the cover part 2 must be dimensioned such that the filler spout 9 can be clamped in its entire width by the projection 4 without creases.

6 and 7, another embodiment for a two-part closure element is shown in a front view and in a side view, which is made of two extruded profile parts. Here, the cover part 2 'has a continuous slot-shaped recess 3', while the support part 1 'is provided with a continuous, web-shaped projection 4'. As can be seen from the side view according to FIG. 8, 4, the filler spout 9 of the balloon to be closed is also clamped in here. One of the two parts, for example the supporting part __l ', is provided at its edge region with a shoulder 6', which is formed, for example, during manufacture from an extruded profile in the form of a continuous web, in which a hole 11 is punched in for tying a cord.

The embodiment shown with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10 corresponds in principle to the embodiment as described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5. The only difference in this embodiment is that the support part 1 "is provided with a recess 3 and a projection 4 running parallel to it. Accordingly, the cover part 2" is also provided with a projection 4 and a recess 3, with respect to FIG the support part 1 "are interchanged. Here too, the support part 1" and the cover part 2 "are hingedly connected to one another by a corresponding connecting web. The support part 1" is provided with a tubular extension 12 into which a holding rod 13 can be inserted. On the side facing away from the extension 12, both the support part 1 "and the cover part 2" each have an angled support surface 14, 15 which, when the closure element is closed, are aligned in a V-shape with respect to one another, as the sectional illustration according to FIG. 10 shows. If the filler nozzle 9 of a balloon 16 is now clamped by the closure element in the manner shown in FIG. 10, the balloon body is supported in the transition area to the filler nozzle 9 on the support surfaces 14, 15 and is thus held in an upright position by the closure element, so that Even when filled with air, an upright positioning of the balloon is guaranteed. This is particularly desirable when such balloons are printed with picture motifs or advertising labels.

For the embodiment according to FIG. 9, another embodiment for the attachment for fastening a holding means is shown with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12. In this embodiment, both the support part 1 "and the cover part 2" are provided with a shoulder 12 ", each of which ends in a rod-shaped end 17. The two rod-shaped ends 17 can have a jagged contour. Now the support part 1" and cover part 2 "When closed to close a balloon, the two rod-shaped ends 17 lie on top of one another in the manner shown in FIG. 12. This part can now be inserted into the helically wound end 18 of a holding wire 19, the profiling of the rod-shaped ends 17 providing a positive connection causes with the helically wound end 18 of the retaining wire.

For the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 1 to 3, an example of a snap lock 21 for securing against unintentional opening is also given. In this example, the snap closure consists of a hook on the cover part 2 which, when the cover part 2 and the support part 1 are pressed together, engages around the support part and engages on the rear side thereof. Instead of the hook shown, closures acting like push buttons or similar can also be provided.

The hinge-like connection 5 is expediently dimensioned in such a way that, for example in the embodiment according to FIG. 1, the support part 1 and the cover part 2 are held resiliently in a V-shaped position when the closure element is open, so that the closure element is gripped comfortably with one hand and can be attached to the balloon.

13 shows a basic form of the closure element for a toy balloon 16. The toy balloon 16 of this exemplary embodiment is produced from two superimposed blanks made of an inextensible plastic film which are welded together in the edge region 10. The toy balloon runs out of a filling nozzle 21. A tube 22 is inserted into this filler nozzle 21, on which, by slightly rotating the filler nozzle 21, it is placed smoothly on the outer wall of the tube 22. The filling nozzle 21 can be fixed smoothly on the tube 22 by means of an adhesive tape 23. In the illustrated embodiment, the tube 22 is dimensioned so long that it also serves as a holding rod. At its lower end a valve element 24 is arranged, the structure of which will be described in more detail below. When the balloon is filled with air, the use of the adhesive tape 23 is not absolutely necessary, since in addition to the alignment of the balloon 16 with respect to the tube 22 serving as a holding rod, a support element 15 is provided here. The support element 15 is formed by one of two half-shells 25 'and 25 ", which form a tube piece 25 and which are provided on their inside with a plurality of radially inwardly directed webs 26. The two half-shells are here provided with latching means (not shown in more detail) which, when the connect the two half shells 25 'and 25 "firmly together. The pipe section 25 thus simultaneously forms a clamping means by which the filling nozzle 21 is held in a sealing manner on the inserted pipe 22. In the direction of the balloon body, the blank 25 widens in a funnel shape to the support element 15 so that the balloon is held in an upright position with respect to the orientation of the tube 22 serving as a holding rod.

After the tube 22 has been inserted into the filling nozzle 21 and the tube piece 25 has clamped over the filling nozzle 21 onto the tube 22, this balloon can now be shipped unfilled as a pre-assembled balloon. If necessary, the user, for example the dealer, refills the balloon with the aid of a compressed air generator via the valve element 24, the valve element either being automatic after the filling process, as described in more detail below, or else being closed by a manual closing process. If, due to leaks, both in the area of the connection between the filling nozzle and the tube 22 and in the area of the valve element, the balloon becomes flat after some time, refilling is easily possible at any time.

The valve element 24 shown on a larger scale in FIG. 2 is formed by a conical stopper part 27 which can be inserted into the mouth of the tube 22 and which has an axially aligned channel 28 which has at least one lateral opening 30 which is arranged at a distance from the stopper tip 29 . having. The plug part 27 is followed by a sleeve-like outer part 31, which engages around the outside of the pipe end, the dimensions being provided such that the valve element can be displaced in the direction of arrow 32 on the end of the pipe 22. 14 shows this embodiment for a valve element in the open, ie in the filling position. The filling channel 28 is placed on the mouth of the pressure generator indicated by the arrow 32, so that the air via the filling channel 28, the passage opening 30 and the ring channel 33 remaining between the plug tip 29 and the opening of the tube 22 into the tube and thus into the Balloon body can enter. After completion of the filling process, the valve element is moved against the opening of the tube 22, so that the plug tip 29 closes the ring channel 33, the dimensions being provided such that the passage opening 30 in the plug part27 still remains outside the mouth of the pipe22. For refilling, the valve element can be slightly removed and the filling process repeated as necessary. In this embodiment, the valve element can consist of a rubber-elastic material, so that here a reliable seal is provided when the plug tip 29 is inserted into the mouth of the tube 22.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 15, a so-called lip valve is inserted as valve element 24 into the mouth of tube 22, which consists of a plug body 34 which has an axial filling channel 35. The stopper body 36 continues in the interior of the tube in two lip bodies 36 ', 36 "lying with a certain pre-tension against one another, which spread apart when filled with filling pressure from the filling channel 35 and allow the air to pass through. After pressure relief, the two lip bodies 36' and 36 lie "close together, so that the air or gas filling of the balloon can no longer escape.

Another embodiment for a closure element is shown in FIG. In this embodiment, the filling nozzle of a toy balloon 16, which is not shown in any more detail, is pushed through a funnel-shaped support element 15, which ends in a pipe section 25, and then a tube 37, which is expediently conical at its free end 38, is inserted into the opening of the filling nozzle. The inside diameter of the pipe section 25 and the outside diameter of the pipe 37 are dimensioned in such a way that the filling nozzle is held in a clamping and thus sealing manner between the two. At the lower end 39 of the tube 37, in turn, a valve element, for example a lip valve, is inserted, as is described with reference to FIG. 15. In the same way, however, a valve element can also be used

Fig. 14 be pushed on. A tubular extension 40 is provided on the side of the tube 37, into which a holding rod 41 can be inserted. Instead of the described, one-piece funnel-shaped support and clamping element 15, 25, the two-part shape described with reference to FIG. 13 can also be used. With this shape, the assembly becomes somewhat easier since the filling nozzle of the balloon does not need to be threaded through the tube piece 25 of the support element.

Another embodiment for a closure element is shown in FIG. Here, a tube 42 is provided which, as described with reference to FIG. 16, can be connected to a support element 15, 25 by clamping the filling nozzle of the balloon. The tube 42 has an L-shaped course, so that its lower end ends in a side connector 43. In this nozzle 43 as a valve element 24, a plug 44 is slidably held, which has a filling duct 4. ₅ On the opposite side of the nozzle 43, a recess 46 is provided, into which the tip 47 of the plug 44 can be inserted. On the side facing away from the tube 42 and coaxially with it, an extension 4o is again provided for receiving a holding rod.

To fill the balloon in such a closure element, the stopper 44 is first pulled out of the socket 43 to such an extent that there is a free connection between the filling channel 45 and the tube 42. After completing the filling process, the tip 44 of the stopper 44 is firmly inserted into the recess 46 _' , so that the free connection between the filling channel 45 and the pipe 442 is interrupted.

FIG. 18 shows a further embodiment for a closure element. This embodiment has a base plate 48, which in turn is at its upper end is provided with a valve element 24 and at its lower end with a clamping element, with the aid of which the tube 22 and the filling nozzle 21 of a toy balloon pushed onto the end of the tube 22 are held. The structure is described in more detail below.

In this embodiment, the valve element 24 is similar to FIG. 1 - 3 from a cover part 49 and a support part 50. The cover part 49 is here provided with a recess 51 which is box-shaped and the longitudinal walls 52 of which run parallel to one another. The supporting part 50 is provided with a closing web 53, the front edge 54 of which has a convex curve. In the example shown, the shape of the leading edge corresponds to an arc. However, this is not mandatory, but it is important in the first line that the contour decreases steadily in height from the center in the longitudinal direction to both sides. The two longitudinal surfaces 55 of the closing web 53 are in turn formed parallel to one another, the thickness of the closing web 53 being dimensioned such that it can be pushed into the box-shaped recess 51 of the cover part practically without play.

Since the entire closure element is expediently made of plastic, cover part 49 and support part 50 are firmly connected to one another via a hinge strap 56 made of plastic. At the other end, the cover part 49 and the support part 50 each have a locking nose 57 which projects beyond the mutually facing contact surfaces and which engages over the front edge of the other part of the valve element facing away from the hinge band 56.

The clamping element has a claw-like receiving part 58 fastened on the base plate 48, the receiving claws 59 of which grip around the filling nozzle and the tube 22 inserted into it.

The receiving part 58 is assigned a securing part 60, which is designed similar to the cover part of the valve element and differs from this only by recesses 61 which are dimensioned such that they can grip around the filler nozzle with the inserted tube 22 according to the receiving claws 59 after the filler nozzle is pressed into the receiving claws 59. The securing part 60 can be fixed on the base plate 48 by a securing lug 62. Here, the receiving claws 59, on the one hand, and the corresponding recesses 61 in the securing part 60, on the other hand, provide for a pre-sealing of the filling nozzle with respect to the pipe 22. For filling, the valve element 24 is opened in the form shown, so that the air can be blown into the balloon. As soon as the desired degree of filling is reached, the cover part 49 of the valve element 24 is folded onto the support part ₅₀ , the filler spout being pressed into the recess 51 of the cover part by the closing web 53 and thereby being smoothed to the sides. Since the smoothly drawn part of the filling nozzle is held in a clamping manner by the side surfaces 55 of the closing web 53 against the surfaces 52 of the recess 51 in the cover part 49, the desired sealing of the filling nozzle takes place here.

Support elements 15 are provided with the cover part 49 and the support part 50 of the valve element 24 in this embodiment, which, for the sake of clarity, are shown in broken lines and only schematically, not correctly, for reasons of clarity. When the valve element 24 is closed, the support surfaces 15 each abut the lower part of the balloon body and hold it in the intended assignment to the tube 22, which in this exemplary embodiment expediently also serves as a holding rod.

FIG. 19 shows a modified form of the closure element according to FIG. 18 in a rear view. In this embodiment, which corresponds in structure and operation to the embodiment according to FIG. 18, only the base plate 48 is made in two parts, the upper section 481 of the base plate carrying the cover part 49 with the associated web 55, which is not visible here, and that lower section 482 of the base plate has the securing part 60 and the receiving part 58 not visible here. The lower section 482 is provided with a longitudinal slot 483, while the upper section 481 is provided with a hammer head-like extension 484. The length of the slot 483 is now such that it is somewhat larger than the length of the transverse head of the extension 484. For assembly, section 481 and section 482 are twisted together by 90 ° so that the head of the extension 484 passes through the slot 483 can be passed. Then both sections are rotated into the end position shown in FIG. 19, the thickness of section 482 and the clear space between the back of section 481 and the lower edge of the head of extension 484 being dimensioned such that both sections are clamped but still displaceable are held. This embodiment makes it possible to adapt the closure element to deviations in the length of the filling nozzle of the balloon.

20 shows a further embodiment for a closure element. This closure element corresponds in principle to the embodiment according to FIG. 13, ie the balloon 16 is fixed to one end of a tube 22 which is provided at its other end with a valve element, for example corresponding to FIG. 14 or 15. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 20, a sliding element 63 is pushed onto the tube 22, which is provided at its end facing away from the balloon with a hub-shaped projection 64 which is displaceable on the tube 22 is led. In the direction of the balloon, a cylindrical part 65 adjoins the hub-shaped extension 64, which widens in a funnel shape towards the balloon to form a support element 15. In the transition area between the cylindrical part 65 and the conical extension 15, a rolling ring 66 is fixed in a groove, which is dimensioned with its inner diameter so that it is slightly compressed when the tube 22 is inserted.

For assembly, the filling nozzle 21 of the balloon 16 is now pushed onto the free end of the tube 22 until the free end of the filling nozzle 21 rests on the rolling ring 66. Subsequently, the sliding element 63 is displaced in the direction of arrow 67 against the balloon on the tube 22, so that the rolling ring 66 rolls up from its original position between the cylindrical part 65 and the tube 22 onto the filling nozzle 21 and this on the tube 22nd tightly clamped. The length of the cylindrical part 65 is dimensioned so that the rolling ring 66 also serves as a stop due to its clamping force when the sliding element 63 is fully advanced in the direction of the balloon and on the one hand the filling nozzle 21 clamps on the tube 22 and at the same time with its funnel-shaped Holds part 15 on the expanding balloon body. After the balloon has been assembled in this way, the balloon can be filled via the valve element in the manner described above. This embodiment can also be used for valve constructions in accordance with the embodiments according to FIGS. 16 and 17.

FIG. 21 shows an embodiment modified compared to FIG. 20. In this embodiment, the tube 22 is secured a ring 68 at some distance from the free end, which comprises in the direction of the balloon two counter ₅ opposite, resiliently splayed arms 69th At the free ends of the arms 69 cupped claws 70 are arranged, which are dimensioned so that they the tube 22 of embrace both sides tightly on half the circumference. In order to increase the clamping effect of the claws 70, web-shaped projections 71 are provided on their inner surface, which are expediently designed to be easily deformable in the radial direction. In turn, a sliding element 63 ′ is pushed onto the tube 22, which widens in a funnel shape in the direction of the balloon as a supporting element 15.

After the free end of the tube 22 is inserted into the filling nozzle 21 of the balloon, the sliding element 63 'is moved in the direction of the arrow 67 against the balloon 16. Here, the resilient arms 69 are now pivoted in the direction of arrows 72 against the tube 22 through the annular part of the sliding element 63 ¹ , so that finally the cup-shaped claws 70 are pressed against the free end of the tube 22 and the filler nozzle 21 sealingly on the tube 22 clamp. The sealing effect is increased by the webs 71, so that the balloon is held on the tube 22, the funnel-shaped support part encompassing the lower part of the balloon body. The balloon can then be filled and closed again via the tube 22 provided with a valve element in accordance with the embodiments according to FIGS. 14, 15 or 16.

Claims (23)

1. closure element for gas-tight sealing of a toy balloon, in particular a balloon welded from plastic film blanks, with a means for fastening a holding rod and a closing part for the filling nozzle of the balloon, characterized by a cover part (2) with at least one recess (3) and a supporting part ( 1) with at least one, the recess (3) of the cover part (2) associated projection (4), which is dimensioned such that it clamps in the recess (3) of the cover part with the interposition of the filling nozzle (9) of a balloon (16) (2) can be inserted, and an extension (12) for a holding means (13, 19), which is arranged on at least one of the two closure parts (support part 1 or cover part 2). 2. Closure element according to claim 1, characterized in that the supporting part (1) and cover parts (2) at their end (12) for the holding means (13, 19) end each have a support surface (14, 15) for the balloon (16 ) which is inclined to the plane of the support part (1) or cover part (2), so that when the closure element is closed, the support surfaces (15, 14) are aligned approximately in a V-shape. 3. Closure element according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the recess (3, 3 ') slit-shaped and the projection (4, 4') are web-shaped. 4. Closure element according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the projection (12) is tubular for receiving a holding rod (13). 5. Closure element according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the projection (12 ") is rod-shaped for fastening a retaining wire (19). 6. Closure element according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that an additional snap lock (21) between the support part (1) and cover part (2) is provided to secure against unintentional opening. 7. Closure element according to claims 1 to 6, characterized in that a tube (22) which can be inserted into the filler nozzle (21) and, as an attachment for fastening a holding rod (13), the filler nozzle (21) with inserted tube (22) at least partially encompassing clamping element (8) with means for fastening the holding rod (13) and a valve element (24) connected to the filling nozzle (21) is provided. 8. Closure element according to claim 7, characterized in that a base plate (48) is provided on which at one end a claw-shaped filling nozzle (21) with inserted tube (22) is arranged around the clamping element on which the balloon (16 ) facing the other end of the filling nozzle (21) at a distance from the inserted tube (22) flat clamping valve element (24) is arranged. 9. Closure element according to claim 7 and 8, characterized in that the valve element (24) is provided with a cover part (49) which has a slot-shaped recess (51) to which a support part (50) fastened to the base plate is assigned, the one the recess (51) of the cover part (49) is assigned a closing web (53) which is dimensioned such that it clamps in the recess (51) of the cover part (49) when the filling nozzle (21) of the balloon (16) to be closed is interposed can be inserted and that the front edge (54) of the closing web (53) assigned to the cover part (49) has a curved course with respect to its longitudinal extent. 10. Closure element according to claim 9, characterized in that the curved course of the front edge (54) corresponds to an arc. 11. Closure element according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the recess (51) in the valve element. is box-shaped in the cover part (49) and its longitudinal walls (53) run parallel to the longitudinal surfaces (55) of the closing web (53). 12. Closure element according to claim 11, characterized in that in the valve element the bottom of the box-shaped recess (51) has a curve corresponding to the curved shape of the front edge (54) of the closing web (53). 13. Closure element according to one of claims 9 to 12, made of plastic, in the cover part (49) and support part (50) of the valve element are connected at one end by a hinge strap made of plastic, characterized in that the hinge strap (56) related is placed on the folded valve element at a distance from the mutually facing surfaces of the cover part (49) and support part (50). 14. Closure element according to one of claims 7 to 13, characterized in that the clamping element has a claw-like receiving part (58) fastened on the base plate (48), the receiving claws (59) of which grip around the filler nozzle (21) with the tube (22) inserted, and furthermore, in the area of the receiving claws (59), has a filling element (21) with a tube (22) inserted from the other side, which extends over the other side and is designed to be fixable on the base plate (48). 15. Closure element according to claim 14, characterized in that the receiving part (58) seen in the longitudinal direction of the tube (22) at a distance next to each other has two receiving claw pairs (59) and at least one between the claw pairs (59) the filler nozzle (21) with inserted tube (22) overlapping securing element (60). Especially for the above-mentioned balloons made of inextensible film, it is expedient if the recess is slot-shaped and the projection is web-shaped, since the filler nozzle has a pronounced two-dimensional alignment due to the welded edges of the two film parts connected to one another, so that one designed in this way when clamped Closure element on the filler a wrinkle-free, flat contact of the walls of the filler against each other and thus a gas-tight seal is guaranteed. Another advantage of the closure element according to the invention is that it can already be clamped onto the filling nozzle of the balloon when it is still connected to the filling element of the gas supply. In this way it is possible to inflate the balloon with the greatest possible gas, i.e. to close without loss of pressure. It is important in the case of balloons made of inextensible film that the projection extends essentially transversely to the alignment of the holding means and the filling nozzle, since the "seat" of the filling nozzle in the closure element remains wrinkle-free even when it is opened repeatedly. In: embodiment of the invention it is provided that the support part and cover part at their end facing away from the approach for the holding means each have a support surface for the balloon, which is inclined to the level of the support part or cover part, so that when the closure element is closed, the support surfaces approximately V -aligned to each other. The support surfaces give the balloon in the transition area between the filling nozzle and the balloon body an additional stabilization, which in particular when filling such balloons with air and a rod or wire as a holding means offers the same visual impression as a balloon filled with balloon gas and attached to a cord. 22. Closure element according to claims 7 to 21, characterized in that the tube (22) to be inserted into the filling nozzle (21) is dimensioned so long that it serves as a holding rod. 23. Closure element according to claims 7 to 22, characterized in that support elements (15) are provided which at least partially encompass the already bulged wall area of the filled balloon (16) which adjoins the filling nozzle (21). 24. Closure element according to claims 7 and 18 to 23, characterized in that the clamping element by means of an axially displaceable in relation to the in the filling nozzle (21) inserted tube (22) and the filling nozzle (21) on the tube (22) clamping tube pieces ( 25) is formed. (Fig. 16, 17). 25. Closure element according to claim 24, characterized in that the tube piece (25) to the balloon body (16) extends in a funnel shape as a support element (15). (Fig. 16.17) 26. Closure element according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that the base plate (48) is divided into two sections (481, 482) which can be displaced in a clamping manner, with the valve element on one section (481) and the receiving element on the other section (482) for the support tube (22). 27. Closure element according to one of claims 1 to 25, characterized in that on the tube (22) against the balloon (16) to be held sliding element (63) is mounted, which is assigned a clamping element (66; 69, 70) , which when moving against the balloon (16) on the tube (22) pushed filler (21) of the balloon tightly clamped on the tube (22) (Fig. 20, 21).

Images