GB2276557A

GB2276557A - Improvements in or related to tying devices.

Info

Publication number: GB2276557A
Application number: GB9306704A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Stephen Battye
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1993-03-31
Filing date: 1993-03-31
Publication date: 1994-10-05
Anticipated expiration: 2013-03-31
Also published as: GB9306704D0; GB2276557B

Abstract

A tool comprising a stick with handle 2 in which the stick is so shaped that near one, or both, of its ends there is a hole 3 which passes thought the stick, a partially penetrating counter bore 6 to the hole and a slot 4 which connects hole and counter bore to the edge of the stick, all fashioned to facilitate the tying of a knot in the neck of a balloon. The hole and the counter bore may be circular in shape, but may be of other, polygonic, shape, see Figs 4A to 4D. The tool may be made of plastic, wood or metal. <IMAGE>

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATED TO TYING DEVICES This invention relates to inflated elastic balloons and the tying of their necks in order to prevent the escape of pressurized gas within.

An elastic balloon is a well known object which has many uses including that of a child's toy, decoration on festive occasions and colourful, attention catching feature for advertising. Immediately after manufacture they are fairly small and approximately flat but when inflated, as they are designed to be for use, they have a large bulbous shape with a volume thousands of times bigger than when uninflated.

Their appeal and usefulness results from their relatively large size, typically a few tens of centimetres across, and delicate and colourful appearance when inflated.

An elastic balloon is commonly made of one piece of rubber so shaped that it completely encloses a space except for a single hole a few millimetres in diameter through which balloon inflation may take place. To prevent taring at the edge of the hole the rubber is thickened to form a thick lip which contours into a short nozzle like neck which at its other end contours into the main body of the balloon which expands when pressurized gas is forced within the enclosed space to inflate the balloon. After inflation the neck is sealed so that the pressurized gas may not escape via the lip when the source of inflation has been removed.

Balloons are usually transported in an uninflated state and filled with pressurized gas at the site where they are to be used. Gas used for inflation is typically forcefully exhaled human breath or pressurized nitrogen from a pressurized storage bottle, although other gases are also used. fi quick and preferably cheap means of sealing a balloon's neck at site is therefore necessary. One commonly used means for sealing is a piece of string wrapped around the balloon's neck and knotted. This is difficult for one person to put in place because of the need to keep the balloon's neck squeezed, to temporarily prevent leakage of pressurized gas, while at the same time manipulating string around the neck and into a knot. Two persons working together can do the job more easily but it is a considerable disadvantage to require two persons for the task.Another method of sealing a balloon's neck is to tie a tight knot in the neck itself.

This can be done by one person working alone but requires a dexterity and skill which few persons possess. The task also causes fine abrasion of the fingers used for tying the knot which makes the fingers sore.

The invention is of a simple device to assist a person with limited dexterity and skill to tie a knot in the neck of a newly inflated balloon in order to seal the neck. It is expected to find usefulness for all those who wish to seal balloon necks but particularly for those who have many balloon necks to seal in a fairly short time because it enables the necks to be sealed quickly and without soreness of the fingers.

According to the present invention there is provided a tool comprising a stick with handle in which the stick is so shaped that near one, or both, of its ends there is a hole which passes through the stick, a partially penetrating counter bore to the hole and a slot which connects hole and counter bore to the edge of the stick, all fashioned to facilitate the tying of a knot in the neck of a balloon..

Figure lh shows a perspective of a particular and exemplary form of the invention in which a plastic stick 1, about 150 millimetres in length, is shaped at one end to form a handle 2, and at the other end to have a hole 3, counter bore b and slot 4. Detail of the end of stick 1 containing hole 3, counter bore 6 and slot 4 are illustrated in Figures 18 and IC in which Figure 1B is a plan and Figure 1C is a sectional elevation across the short dimension of stick 1 and across the diameter of hole 3.

Viewed along its length stick 1 has an approximately elliptical cross sectional shape. Hole 3 is located near the end of stick 1 and passes through stick 1 along the line of the minor axis of the ellipse. Near one end of hole 3 there is a shoulder 5 at the intersection of hole 3 and counter bore 6.

Slot 4 extends in the direction of the axis of hole 3 and connects hole 3 and its counter bore 6 to the end of stick 1. Viewed in the direction of the axis of hole 3, slot 4 has non parallel sides. Slot 4 is narrower at the end at which it meets hole 3 and counter bore 6 than it is at the end at which it meets the edge of stick 1. The first side of slot 4 is approximately tangential to the edge of hole 3 and the second side of slot 4 is approximately along a line which passes through the same tangential point of intersection of the first side of slot 4 with hole 3 and through the point of intersection of counter bore 6 with the longitudinal axis of stick 1. Viewed along the length of stick 1 the sides of slot 4 are approximately parallel.Intersections between the surfaces of stick 1, handle 2, hole 3, counter bore 6 and slot 4 are all shaped and rounded so that there are no sharp corners.

Figures 3A, 3B and 3C illustrate the use of the particular and exemplary form of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 iB and 1C. In use for tying a knot in the neck of a balloon with bulb 7, neck 8 and lip 9, the tool is held so that stick 1 is held, using handle 2, by the user's first hand. For a right handed person the first hand is the right hand. The stick is held close to the users body pointing across and slightly away from the stomach with the axis of hole 3 in the vertical plane and counter bore 6, not shown in Figures 3A, 3B and 3C, facing the ground.The balloon's neck 8 is laid across stick 1, as illustrated in Figure 3, and pressed firmly against stick 1 at point 10 by the thumb of the first hand in order to prevent pressurized gas escaping. The second hand is moved between the users body and bulb 7, and under stick 1 to grip lip 9 between thumb and first finger. Neck 8 is stretched by pulling lip 9 under stick 1 towards the arm pit of the first hand, as illustrated in Figure 3B. Maintaining the pressure at point 10 and keeping grip of lip 9 the neck of the balloon is stretched more by pulling lip 9 further, passed the thumb pressing at point 10 and down through slot 4 so that the neck of the balloon immediately adjacent to lip 9 passes through hole 3.Lip 9 is then released so that lip 9 springs into counter bore 6, not shown in Figures 3A, 3B and 3C, where it rests countersunk, held from retraction to point 10, to maintain tension in neck 8. The balloon s neck 8 is then rolled off the end of stick 1 to form an open knot in neck 8. The knot is tightened by pulling the balloon's bulb 7 against lip 9 caught in counter bore 6, not shown in Figures 3 3B and 3C. Lip 9 is pulled free from stick 1 by twisting the wrist of the first hand so that lip 9 slips out of counter bore 6, not shown in Figures 3A, 3B and 3C, and along slot 4.

It is not necessary that stick 1 has an approximately elliptical cross sectional shape perpendicular to the length of stick 1, for there are other forms of the invention in which it is of approximately rectangular shape, others in which it is of approximately triangular shape, others in which it is of approximately square shape, others in which it is of approximately rectangular shape, others in which it is of approximately hexagonal shape, others in which it is of approximately octagonal shape and others in which it is of approximately circular shape, for the invention includes stick 1 of all cross sectional shapes suitable for the purpose.

It is not necessary that stick 1 has a handle 2 of different cross sectional shape viewed along the length of stick 1, for there are other forms of the invention in which handle 2 and stick 1 have the same sectional shape viewed along the length of stick 1. In some such forms of the invention there is no demarcation between stick 1 and handle 2.

It is not necessary that counter bore 6 has a flat surface 5 at its end where it forms a shoulder in joining hole 3, for there are other forms of the invention in which surface 5 is part of a cone, other forms in which surface 5 is part of a hemisphere, other forms in which surface 5 is part of an ellipse and other forms in which surface 5 is of other shapes, for the invention includes all forms of surface 5 suitable for the purpose.

It is not necessary that hole 3 is circular viewed along the line of its axis, for there are other forms of the invention in which hole 3 is approximately elliptical, other forms in which hole 3 approximately square, other forms in which hole 3 is approximately rectangular, other forms in which hole 3 is approximately triangular, other forms in which hole 3 is approximately hexagonal, and other forms in which hole 3 is approximately octagonal, for the invention includes all shapes of hole 3 suitable for the purpose.

It is not necessary that counter bore 6 is circular viewed along the line of the axis of hole 3 for there are other forms of the invention in which counter bore 6 is approximately elliptical, other forms in which counter bore 6 is approximately square, other forms in which counter bore 6 is approximately rectangular, other forms in which counter bore 6 is approximately triangular, other forms in which counter bore 6 is approximately hexagonal, and other forms in which counter bore 6 is approximately octagonal, for the invention includes all shapes of counter bore 6 suitable for the purpose.

It is not necessary that slot 4 is as illustrated in Figures I, 1B and 1C for there are other forms of the invention in which slot 4 is neither of varying width nor with one side tangential to the side of hole 3, for the invention includes all possible shapes and orientations of slot 4 suitable for the purpose. By way of example only, Figures 4, 4B, 4C, 4D, 5A, 5B, SC and 5D illustrate a few of the many variations of slot 4 according to the invention.

Figures 4, 4B, 4C and 4D illustrate plan views in the direction of the axis of hole 3 of a few of the many alternative, shapes for hole 3, shapes for counter bore 6 and shapes for slot 4 according to the invention.

In the particular and exemplary form of the invention illustrated in part by Figure 4, shoulder 5 is the intersecting surface between circular hole 3 and rectangular counter bore 6. Slot 4 is symmetrical about the centre line along the length of stick 1 and viewed from along the direction of the axis of hole 3, slot 4 is not parallel sided In the particular and exemplary form of the invention illustrated in part by Figure 4B, shoulder 5 is the intersecting surface between square hole 3 and circular counter bore 6.

Slot 4 is not symmetrical about the centre line along the length of stick 1 but viewed from along the direction of the axis of hole 3, slot 4 is parallel sided.

In the particular and exemplary form of the invention illustrated in part by Figure 4C, shoulder 5 is the intersecting surface between circular hole 3 and triangular counter bore 6. Slot 4 is symmetrical about the centre line along the length of stick 1 and viewed from along the direction of the axis of hole 3, slot 4 is parallel sided.

In the particular and exemplary form of the invention illustrated in part by Figure 4D, shoulder 5 is the intersecting surface between circular hole 3 and triangular counter bore 6. Slot 4 is at an angle to the centre line along the length of stick 1 but viewed from along the direction of the axis of hole 3, slot 4 is parallel sided.

Figures 5A. SB, 5C and 5D show edge of stick 1 views at right angles to the axis of hole 3, of a few of the many slot shapes according to the invention. Figures 5A, 5B, 5C and SD also illustrate in broken lines a few of the many shoulder 5 shapes according to the invention.

In the particular and exemplary form of the invention illustrated in part by Figure 5R, stick 1 is of approximately triangular cross section, slot 4 is parallel sided viewed from the edge of stick I at right angles to the axis of hole 3, and the surface of intersection between hole 3 and counter bore 6 is part of a cone.

In the particular and exemplary form of the invention illustrated in part by Figure SB, stick 1 is of approximately elliptical cross section, slot 4 is not parallel sided viewed from the edge of stick 1 at right angles to the axis of hole 3, and the surface of intersection between hole 3 and counter bore 6 is planar.

In the particular and exemplary form of the invention illustrated in part by Figure 5C, stick 1 is of approximately elliptical cross section, slot 4 is not parallel sided viewed from the edge of stick 1 at right angles to the axis of hole 3, and the surface of intersection between hole 3 and counter bore 6 is approximately part of an ellipse. Hole 3 is not parallel sided along its length.

In the particular and exemplary form of the invention illustrated in part by Figure SD, stick 1 is of approximately rectangular cross section, slot 4 is parallel sided viewed from the edge of stick 1 at right angles to the axis of hole 3, and the surface of intersection between hole 3 and counter bore 6 is part of a sphere.

filthough it is preferred that stick 1 is made of plastic it is not necessary that it is, for there are other forms of the invention in which stick 1 is made of wood and other forms of the invention in which stick 1 is made of metal, for the invention includes stick 1 made of any material suitable for the purpose.

Although it is preferred that stick 1 and handle 2 are made of the same material it is not necessary that they are, for there are other forms of the invention in which stick 1 is made of metal and handle 2 made of wood, other forms in which stick I is made of plastic and handle 2 made of wood, and other forms in which stick 1 is made of wood and handle 2 made of cork for the invention includes stick 1 and handle 2 made of any materials or combination of materials suitable for the purpose.

It is not necessary that the tool according to the invention comprises a stick 1 with a hole 3, counter bore 6 and slot 4 near one end, and a handle 2 at the other end, for there are other forms of the invention in which the tool comprises a stick 1 at both ends of which there is a hole 3, counter bore 6 and slot 4, and a handle 2 between the two ends of stick 1.

It is not necessary that the tool according to the invention comprises a single stick at both ends off which there is a hole 3, counter bore 6 and slot 4 with a handle 2 between the two ends of stick 1, for the invention includes two separate sticks 1 each with, near one of their ends, a hole 3, counter bore 6 and slot 4, and at their other of their ends a common handle 2.

The form of the invention which has stick 1 with, near each of its ends, a hole 3, counter bore 6 and slot 4, and the form of the invention which has a single handle 2 supporting two sticks 1 at each end of the handle, can either have the two separate holes 1, counter bores 6 and slots 4 of the same size, or else any one or all of hole 3, counter bore 6 or slot 4 at the two ends of different sizes.

Figure 2 shows a particular and exemplary form of the invention in which both ends of stick 1 have a hole 3, counter bore 6 and slot 4. In this particular and exemplary form of the invention the size of hole 3, counter bore 6 and slot 4 at one end of stick 1 is larger than the size of hole 3, counter bore 6 and slot 4 at the other end of stick 1. When this form of the invention is in use, large balloons have knots put in their necks S by placing the balloon at the end of stick 1 which has the large hole 3, large counter bore 6 and large slot 4 and small balloons have knots put in their necks 8 by placing the balloons at the end of stick 1 with the small hole 3, small counter bore 6 and small slot 4.

The invention is of a tool which includes all possible combinations and variations of stick 1 shape, handle 2 shape, hole 3 shape, counter bore 6 shape, shoulder 5 shape, and slot 4 shape, and sizes of stick 1, handle 2, hole 3, counter bore 6 and slot 4 suitable for the purpose of facil- itating the tying of a knot in the neck of a balloon.

Claims

CLRIMS

What I claim is 1. A tool comprising a stick near one end of which there is a hole which passes through the stick, a partially penetrating counter bore to the hole and a slot connecting hole and counter bore to the edge of the stick, also a handle at the opposite end of the stick to the hole, all made and fashioned to facilitate the tying of a knot in the neck of a balloon.

2. n tool comprising a stick at each end of which is a hole which passes through the stick, a partially penetrating counter bore to the hole, and a slot which connects hole and counter bore to the edge of the stick, also a handle between the two ends of the stick, all made and fashioned to facilitate the tying of a knot in the neck of a balloon.

3. fi tool comprising two sticks at opposite ends of a handle in which each stick has near its end a hole which passes through the stick, a partially penetrating counter bore to the hole and a slot connecting hole and counter bore to the edge of the stick, all made and fashioned to facilitate the tying of a knot in the neck of a balloon.

4. A tool as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3 in which the handle is made of the same material as the stick and so contoured that there is no clearly identifiable demarcation between stick and handle.

5. A tool as claimed in claims 1 to 4 in which the stick is made of plastic.

6. fi tool as claimed in claims I to 4 in which the stick is made of wood.

7. A tool as claimed in claims 1 to 4 in which the stick is made of metal.

8. fi tool as claimed in claims 1 to 4 in which the stick is made of any material suitable for the purpose.

9. R tool as claimed in any of claims 1 to 8 in which the handle is made of plastic.

10. A tool as claimed in any of claims 1 to 8 in which the handle is made of wood.

11. n tool as claimed in any of claims 1 to 8 in which the handle is made of metal.

1 tool as claimed in claims 1 to 8 in which the handle is made of any material suitable for the purpose.

13. A tool as claimed in any of claims 1 to 12 in which the shape of the stick viewed in the direction of its length is approximately elliptical.

14. A tool as claimed in any of claims 1 to 12 in which the shape of the stick viewed in the direction of its length is approximately triangular.

15. A tool as claimed in any of claims 1 to 12 in which the shape of the stick viewed in the direction of its length is approxiniately rectangular.

16. n tool as claimed in any of claims 1 to 12 in which the shape of the stick is any suitable for the purpose.

17. A tool as claimed in any of claims 1 to 12 and 13 in which the axis of the hole is at right angles to the length of the stick and approximately parallel to the minor axis of the ellipse.

18. A tool as claimed in any of claims 1 to 12 and 14 in which the axis of the hole is at right angles to the length of the stick and approximately parallel one of the vertices of the triangle.

19. tool as claimed in any of claims 1 to 12 and 15 in which the axis of the hole is at right angles to the length of the stick and approximately parallel to the short side of the rectangle.

20. A tool as claimed in any of claims 1 to 16 in which the axis of the hole is at any angle suitable for the purpose 21. tool as claimed in any of the claims 1 to 20 in which the shape of the hole viewed in the direction of its axis is approximately circular.

22. tool as claimed in any of the claims 1 to 20 in which the shape of the hole viewed in the direction of its axis is approximately elliptical.

23. A tool as claimed in any of the claims 1 to o4 in which the shape of the hole viewed in the direction of its axis is approximately square.

24. n tool as claimed in any of the claims 1 to 20 in which the shape of the hole viewed in the direction of its axis is approximately rectangular.

5. A tool as claimed in any of the claims 1 to 20 in which the shape of the hole viewed in the direction of its axis is approximately triangular.

26. A tool as claimed in any of the claims 1 to 20 in which the shape of the hole viewed in the direction of its axis is approximately hexagonal.

27. n tool as claimed in any of the claims 1 to 20 in which the shape of the hole viewed in the direction of its axis is approximately octagonal.

tool A tool as claimed in any of the claims 1 to 20 in which the shape of the hole is any suitable for the purpose.

29. A tool as claimed in any of claims 1 to 28 in which the counter bore viewed in the direction of the axis of hole 3 is approximately circular.

30. Q tool as claimed in any of claims 1 to 28 in which the shape of the counter bore viewed in the direction of the axis of hole 3 is approximately elliptical.

31. tool as claimed in any of claims 1 to 28 in which the shape of the counter bore viewed in the direction of the axis of hole 3 is approximately square 32. A tool as claimed in any of claims 1 to 28 in which the shape of the counter bore viewed in the direction of the axis of hole 3 is approximately rectangular.

33. A tool as claimed in any of claims 1 to 28 in which the shape of the counter bore viewed in the direction of the axis of hole 3 is approximately triangular.

34. n tool as claimed in any of claims 1 to 28 in which the shape of the counter bore viewed in the direction of the axis of hole 3 is approximately hexagonal.

35. tool as claimed in any of claims 1 to 28 in which the shape of the counter bore viewed in the direction of the axis of hole 3 is approximately octagonal.

36. A tool as claimed in any of claims 1 to 28 in which the shape of the counter bore is any suitable for the purpose.

37. A tool as claimed in any of claims 1 to 36 in which the surface which connects the end of the counter bore, to the hole, is approximately flat and approximately at right angles to the to the axis of the hole.

38. tool as claimed in any of claims 1 to 36 in which the surface which connects the end of the counter bore, to the hole, is approximately part of the surface of a cone.

39. A tool as claimed in any of claims 1 to 36 in which the surface which connects the end of the counter bore, to the hole, is approximately part of the surface of a sphere.

40. n tool as claimed in any of claims 1 to 36 in which the surface which connects the end of the counter bore, to the hole, is approximately part of the surface of an ellipse.

41. A tool as claimed in any of claims 1 to 36 in which the surface which connects the end of the counter bore, to the hole, is any suitable shape for the service.

42. n tool as claimed in any of claims 1 to 41 in which, viewed in the direction of the axis of the hole, the slot which connects the hole and counter bore to the edge of the stick has a centre line along its length between hole and stick edge which is parallel to the centre line along the length of the stick.

43. n tool as claimed in any of claims 1 to 41 in which, viewed in the direction of the axis of the hole, the slot which connects the hole and counter bore to the edge of the stick has a centre line along its length between hole and stick edge which is not parallel to the centre line along the length of the stick.

44. A tool as claimed in any of claims 1 to 43 in which, viewed in the direction of the axis of the hole, the slot which connects the hole and counter bore to the edge of the stick is smaller where it joins the hole and counter bore than it is at the edge of the stick.

45. A tool as claimed in any of the claims 1 to 43 in which, viewed in the direction of the axis of the hole, the slot which connects the hole and counter bore to the edge of the stick is parallel sided.

46. R tool as claimed in any of the claims 1 to 43 in which, viewed in the direction of the axis of the hole, one side of the slot is approximately tangential to the hole.

47. n tool as claimed in any of the claims 1 to 43 in which, viewed in the direction of the axis of the hole, the centre line of the slot from hole to stick edge is approximately along the centre line along the length of the stick.

48. A tool as claimed in any of the claims 1 to 47 in which, viewed along the length of the stick, the slot has straight sides.

49. n tool as claimed in any of the claims 1 to 47 in which, viewed along the length of the stick, the sides of the slot are parallel.

50. n tool as claimed in any of the claims 1 to 47 in which, viewed along the length of the stick, the sides of the slot are not parallel.

51. A tool as claimed in any of the claims 1 to 47 in which, viewed along the length of the stick, the sides of the slot are curved.

5. A tool as claimed in any of the claims 1 to 47 in which, viewed along the length of the stick, the shape of the slot sides and the relative angle of one side of the slot to the other side of the slot are any suitable for the purpose.

53. n tool as claimed in any of the claims 2 to 5 in which the size and shape of the hole, size and shape of the counter bore and size and shape of the slot near one end of the tool are the same as the size and shape of the hole, size and shape of the counter bore and shape and size of the slot at the other end of the tool 54. A tool as claimed in any of the claims 2 to 52 in which any one or all of the size and shape of the hole, size and shape of the counter bore or size and shape of the slot near one end of the tool are different to the size and shape of the hole, size and shape of the counter bore or size and shape of the slot near the other end of the tool.

55. A tool with a hole, partially penetrating counter bore to the hole and slot arranged and adapted to be used substantially as described with reference to any or all of the Figures tA, XB, 1C, 2, 3A, 3B, 3C, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 5A, 5B, 5C and 5D of the accompanying drawings, or any combination of the features described in the text or in connection with Figures lA, IB, 1C, 2, 3A, 3B, 3C, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 5A, 5B, 5C and 5D.