GB2461394A

GB2461394A - Balloon bursting apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2461394A
Application number: GB0911413A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Samuel Thomas Houghton
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-07-02
Filing date: 2009-07-01
Publication date: 2010-01-06
Anticipated expiration: 2029-07-01
Also published as: GB0812095D0; GB2461394B; GB0911413D0

Abstract

A balloon bursting apparatus comprises an enclosure including a lid, a piercing or cutting means actuateable when the lid is placed upon the enclosure so as to form a safe and convenient means for bursting balloons placed in the enclosure. The enclosure may include a power source and an electric motor to drive the piercing or cutting means. The piercing or cutting means may comprise a fan. The apparatus is particularly useful at party centres were considerable numbers of balloons are frequently disposed of.

Description

A balloon bursting apparatus The present invention relates to a balloon bursting apparatus for both bursting recreational party balloons. In particular, the invention relates to a housing and a cutter or other mechanism for performing this task.

Bursting quantities of inflated party balloons is often required between events at function centres. For example, where one party ends and another, with a different theme, will take place next. What is required is a quick and safe method of disposing of inflated balloons, such as by bursting.

Objectives relevant to the present invention are a reduction in noise, the avoidance of projectile debris, the collection of debris, convenience and mechanisation associated with balloon bursting for disposal.

The present invention in its various aspects is as set out in the appended claims.

The present invention provides a balloon bursting apparatus for bursting balloons, such as at a party centre, the sound of balloon bursting being muffled by use of the apparatus: the apparatus comprising: an enclosure, a lid for the enclosure; a power source, an actuator mechanism for a cutting or piercing device located within the enclosure, powered by said a power source; the cutting or piercing device being movably located within the enclosure and configured to burst a balloon placed within the enclosure; a switching means for activating the actuator mechanism, the switching means being engageable only when the lid is placed on the enclosure, such as to provide an enclosed space within which, in use, a balloon to be burst is located; wherein the device, in use is, operable by the placement of a balloon inside the enclosure of the apparatus and placement of the lid on the apparatus so engage the switching means such that part from the power source actuates the actuator mechanism such that the cutting or piercing device can pierce said balloon.

The actuator mechanism for a cutting or piercing device is preferably a motor comprising a spindle, the cutting or piercing device preferably being in the form of a piercing point or points or cutting edge or edges, more preferably in the form of a disk, most preferably in the form of a fan. When a fan is used, the actuator mechanism is preferably configured to rotate the plan in a motion such that a sucking action is created towards the axis of the spindle such that the side of the farm least obstructed by the spindle and/or the motor is on the blowing side of the fan. This has the advantage that a balloon is sucked towards the cutting device, in the form of a fan, such that the balloon moves towards the fan. In initial prototypes it was found that when the enclosure is configured to be large enough to accept all balloons of normal size, (about 30 cm cubed) small balloons tended by means of static attraction to the two sides of the enclosure and not engage with the coating or piercing device. The use of a fan as a cutter overcomes this disadvantage. The actuator mechanism may also be a piston or solenoid operating a slideable piercing member.

A preferred form of cutting or piercing device is, as previously mentioned, a fan the corners of the fan blades preferably being of a piercing nature and the circumferential edges of the fan preferably being of a cutting nature.

The power source of the present invention is preferably integral to the device, most preferably located within the enclosure; this provides a compact and portable device. However, it is within the scope of the present invention that an external power source, such as a flex to a power point may be used. The preferred power source is an electrical power source, in particular battery power. This provides compact design and a convenient power source for optional illumination of the apparatus. The apparatus preferably comprises at least one illuminatable indicator means for indicating when the device is powered and/or when the cutting mechanism is in operation and/or when the lid is properly located; to improve safety.

The apparatus is preferably configured such that the switch can only be engaged (i.e. turned on) when the lid of the enclosure is located wholly on the enclosure. It was found that this was best achieved by forming a recess in the lid, the recess sitting on an upper edge of, for example a box-type, enclosure, an inner edge of the lid adjacent the recess acting to engage, e.g. by depressing the (micro) switch and so both turn on the power supply and activate the actuator mechanism.

In practice it was found that curious users depressed the switch so as to see how the device worked and thereby potentially exposed themselves to the cutting or piercing device. Hence, the apparatus preferably also comprises a shroud for the cutting or piercing device such that when the switch is not engaged the shroud covers the cutting or piercing device and when the switch is engaged the shroud is removed sufficient that the cutting or piercing device can engage in a balloon.

The device preferably comprises an additional (in series) or alternative switch in the form of light activated switch such that the switch is only activated when the lid is properly located and hence the inside of the (opaque) enclosure is dark. This provides more robust safety as the curious user, such as a child, is less likely to activate such a switch.

The enclosure of the present invention may be soundproofed. The enclosure of the present invention is preferably rectangular I parallelepiped, whilst a circular I spheroidal device may also be used the presence of corners in the enclosure has been found to form a convenient place in which residues of burst balloons tended to gather and are easily scooped out. It also provides space to locate the power source, actuator and bursting means (cutting or piercing device).

Benefits of the present invention The enclosure acts to muffled the bursting sound, to automatically collect balloon residues in the manner of a bin, and a stop balloon portions of flying away (such as could hit a person or occasion extra tidying up). The configuration of the apparatus (as disclosed above) provides a safety interlock for safe operation. The amplitude of sound of a bursting balloons in the open air can on occasion reach 100 dB and this, particularly when aggregated over a considerable number of balloons can result in hearing damage or at least irritation. Further, by bursting the balloons in an enclosed space the potential for remnants of a bursting a balloon to fly out and hit someone on the eye, with the potential for injury, is removed. Further, in a party centre children may become distressed or overly excited by the visible and audible bursting of balloons and the present device avoids this.

Claims

Claims 1) A balloon bursting apparatus comprising an enclosure, a piercing or cutting means actuateable when the lid is placed upon the enclosure so as to form a safe and convenient means for bursting balloons.
2) A balloon bursting apparatus of claim 1 for bursting balloons the apparatus comprising: said enclosure suitable for holding a balloon, and said lid for the enclosure; a power source, an actuator mechanism for a cutting or piercing device located within the enclosure, powered by said a power source; said cutting or piercing device being movably located within the enclosure and configured to burst a balloon placed within the enclosure; a switching means for activating the actuator mechanism, the switching means being engage able only when the lid is placed on the enclosure, such as to provide an enclosed space within which, in use, a balloon to be burst is located; wherein, the device, in use, is operable by the placement of a balloon inside the enclosure of the apparatus and placement of the lid on the apparatus so engage the switching means such that part from the power source actuates the actuator mechanism such that the cutting or piercing device can pierce said a balloon for the purpose of bursting said balloon.
3) The apparatus of claim one wherein the power source is an electrical power source.
4) The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the actuator mechanism comprises an electric motor.
5) The apparatus of any of claims 1 to 3 wherein the cutting or piercing device comprises a fan.
6) The apparatus of any proceeding claim wherein there is a movable shroud for the cutting or piercing device, such that the shroud covers the device when the lid is removed.
7) The apparatus of any proceeding claim wherein the lid serves to engage the switch directly.
8) The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the switch is only engageable when the lid closes the enclosure such that no line-of-sight access to the enclosure is present.