NZ624279B2 - Lighting/sound-producing device activated by inflated balloon - Google Patents
Lighting/sound-producing device activated by inflated balloon Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- NZ624279B2 NZ624279B2 NZ624279A NZ62427912A NZ624279B2 NZ 624279 B2 NZ624279 B2 NZ 624279B2 NZ 624279 A NZ624279 A NZ 624279A NZ 62427912 A NZ62427912 A NZ 62427912A NZ 624279 B2 NZ624279 B2 NZ 624279B2
- Authority
- NZ
- New Zealand
- Prior art keywords
- sounder
- balloon
- lighting
- air channel
- lighting lamp
- Prior art date
Links
- 238000007789 sealing Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 24
- 230000037250 Clearance Effects 0.000 claims description 5
- 230000035512 clearance Effects 0.000 claims description 5
- 239000007789 gas Substances 0.000 claims description 5
- 229910052751 metal Inorganic materials 0.000 description 15
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 15
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 9
- 238000007599 discharging Methods 0.000 description 4
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 3
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 description 3
- 230000001070 adhesive Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000000853 adhesive Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229920001971 elastomer Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 239000002965 rope Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000002699 waste material Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229920000126 Latex Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 229910052782 aluminium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- XAGFODPZIPBFFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N aluminum Chemical compound [Al] XAGFODPZIPBFFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 238000007664 blowing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000009795 derivation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000007373 indentation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000004816 latex Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 description 1
- XUIMIQQOPSSXEZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N silicon Chemical compound [Si] XUIMIQQOPSSXEZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229910052710 silicon Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000010703 silicon Substances 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63H—TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS
- A63H27/00—Toy aircraft; Other flying toys
- A63H27/10—Balloons
- A63H2027/1033—Inflation devices or methods for inflating balloons
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63H—TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS
- A63H27/00—Toy aircraft; Other flying toys
- A63H27/10—Balloons
- A63H2027/1058—Balloons associated with light or sound
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63H—TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS
- A63H27/00—Toy aircraft; Other flying toys
- A63H27/10—Balloons
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F21—LIGHTING
- F21V—FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F21V3/00—Globes; Bowls; Cover glasses
- F21V3/02—Globes; Bowls; Cover glasses characterised by the shape
- F21V3/023—Chinese lanterns; Balloons
- F21V3/026—Chinese lanterns; Balloons being inflatable
Abstract
lighting or sounding device activated by inflation of a balloon is disclosed. The device comprises a lamp or sounder (210), such as a speaker, a battery (240), and a housing (250). The housing (250) comprises a gas inlet end (251), a gas outlet end (252) and an air channel (260) connecting the gas inlet end (251) and the gas outlet end (252) to form a through passage in the housing (250) for gas flow. The lamp or sounder (210) has a supporting and fixing holder (230) which is slidably sleeved inside the air channel (260) of the housing (250). A seal (220) is provided about the outer wall of the holder (230). The lamp or sounder (210) has an electrical connection for connecting a control circuit of the lamp or sounder (210) to the battery (240). After the balloon (290) is inflated, a pressure difference between the inside and the outside of the balloon (290) is formed, pushing the lamp or sounder (210) such that it slides toward the outlet end (252) of the air channel (260), bringing the outer wall into sealing connection with a reduced cross-section of the air channel (260) to seal off the air channel (260) while also bringing the lamp or sounder (210) into electrical connection with the battery (240). inlet end (251) and the gas outlet end (252) to form a through passage in the housing (250) for gas flow. The lamp or sounder (210) has a supporting and fixing holder (230) which is slidably sleeved inside the air channel (260) of the housing (250). A seal (220) is provided about the outer wall of the holder (230). The lamp or sounder (210) has an electrical connection for connecting a control circuit of the lamp or sounder (210) to the battery (240). After the balloon (290) is inflated, a pressure difference between the inside and the outside of the balloon (290) is formed, pushing the lamp or sounder (210) such that it slides toward the outlet end (252) of the air channel (260), bringing the outer wall into sealing connection with a reduced cross-section of the air channel (260) to seal off the air channel (260) while also bringing the lamp or sounder (210) into electrical connection with the battery (240).
Description
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
Lighting/Sound-producing Device Activated by Inflation of Balloon
BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
Field of Invention
The present invention relates to an accessory of a balloon, particularly to a
lighting or sounding device for a balloon that operates when the balloon is inflated.
Description of Related Arts
Balloons are decorations frequently used in daily life, and people most usually
decorate the environment with inflated balloons.
However, the usage is too monotonous to meet diversified needs. So balloons
with various special effects have been created, such as luminous balloons, lighting
balloon and sounding balloons. Chinese patent application CN200610122541.7, for one,
discloses a luminous balloon, which has a lighting effect and is characterized in that an
LED lamp is taken as a light source and a light circuit device which supplies power to a
silicon photocell is arranged in a plastic shell with an air hole. The luminous balloon has
a simple frame, and is convenient to use and suitable not only for being held in hand after
being sleeve-jointed with a plastic pipe but also for being tied and dragged by a rope to
float in the air or ornament the night scene. U.S. patent 7344267 discloses an illuminated
toy balloon having an illuminating device and a cylindrical plug with an integrally-
formed radially extending integral flange insertable within the balloon neck, wherein the
illuminating device is provided within the balloon neck.
Since balloons are usually made of latex, aluminum film or plastic, how to
install a lighting or sounding device becomes an important issue for a lighting or
sounding balloon. As for the patent US7344267, a lighting device is installed at the neck
of the balloon intake nozzle, which would affect inflation and use of the balloon and
hence is not convenient enough. Then people think of a way to install a lighting or
sounding device inside a balloon by fixing the device onto the balloon wall, such as the
structure disclosed by the patent application GB20070004575 wherein a lighting device
is fixed onto the inner wall of a balloon, but such a structure has a problem on how to
control the lighting or sounding device inside the balloon.
Therefore, a seal sticker described in the patent application WO20110210 has
become a key mechanism to control a lighting or sounding device inside a balloon. The
disclosed seal sticker is used to disconnect the electric circuit of the lighting device, and
the circuit is connected once the seal sticker is withdrawn, thereby controlling a lighting
or sounding device to start. However, the seal sticker is not easy to process and install as
the seal sticker needs to be inserted into the circuit of the lighting or sounding device,
which increases difficulty and cost of processing, and withdrawal and then disposal of the
seal sticker are especially a waste of resources and environmentally unfriendly.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
According to the present invention there is provided a lighting or sounding
device activated by inflation of a balloon comprises a lighting lamp or sounder, a battery,
and a housing at least covering the lighting lamp or sounder, wherein the housing
comprises:
an inlet end to let air or other gases into the housing,
an outlet end to discharge the air or the other gases from the housing, and
an air channel to connect the inlet end and the outlet end so that a through
passage for air flow is formed within the housing;
wherein the lighting lamp or sounder is provided in the air channel and has a
sealing device for sealing off the air channel, and wherein
the lighting lamp or sounder has a supporting and fixing holder that covers the
lighting lamp or sounder at least from one cross-section so that the lighting lamp or
sounder has an outer wall at the cross-section,
said outer wall is sleeved with the sealing device in a ring-shaped structure, and
is located within the air channel, and
the lighting lamp or sounder has an electrical connection for connecting a
control circuit of the lighting lamp or sounder to the battery,
whereby an increase in pressure inside the balloon as it inflates causes a
discharge of air through the air channel so that the lighting lamp or sounder to slides in
the direction of the discharge air and brings the outer wall into sealing connection with a
reduced cross-section portion of the air channel while also bringing the lighting lamp or
sounder into electrical connection with the battery.
Before inflation of the balloon, a circuit of the lighting lamp or sounder is
disconnected and the lighting lamp or sounder cannot be activated to operate; after the
balloon is inflated, a gas pressure is generated within and forms a pressure difference
between inside and outside the air channel, which pushes the lighting lamp or sounder
towards the outer end of the air channel and seals the air channel; and, when the air
channel is sealed up, the electric circuit of the lighting lamp or sounder is connected and
the lighting lamp or sounder is activated to operate.
The sealing device is any one selected from the group consisting of an O-ring, a
seal ring, and a seal coil (like a rubber ring), or a fitted mechanism formed between the
lighting lamp or sounder and the housing. Such mechanisms as a tightly fitted or nested
mechanism between the outside surface of the lighting lamp or sounder and the housing
or a buckled mechanism between the lighting lamp or sounder and the housing are all
able to seal off the air channel and thus can be referred to as a form of a sealing device.
In correspondence with the sealing device, at least a part of the air channel is
cylindrical so as to seal off the air channel with the sealing device and connect the circuit
of the lighting lamp or sounder.
In a preferred embodiment, the lighting lamp or sounder is provided at the
outside with a seal coil or seal ring projecting from an exterior margin of the lighting
lamp or sounder for close contact with the air channel to seal the air channel up.
The seal coil or seal ring projecting from the exterior margin of the lighting
lamp or sounder has a same sealing function as the sealing device provided on an external
surface.
The housing has a cross-section in a shape of T, I, or trapezoid, so that the air
channel forms a reduced neck portion around which a platform is provided; and a seal
gasket is provided at one end of the lighting lamp or sounder, which projects from the
end of the lighting lamp or sounder with a flat contact surface and has a diameter larger
than a diameter of the reduced neck portion so that the contact surface is able to form a
sealing contact with the platform, thereby sealing off the air channel.
The inner wall of the housing has a bell-like structure, the lighting lamp or
sounder sleeved with the seal coil or seal ring is located inside the bell, and a clearance
between the lighting lamp or sounder and the housing constitutes the air channel.
The lighting or sounding device is provided inside a balloon and is fixed onto an
inner wall of the balloon by an external cover with an exhaust port connecting the outlet
end of the lighting or sounding device to form the air channel.
Further, a piercing device is provided where the lighting or sounding device
contacts the inner wall of the balloon inside the external cover, which has a pointed tip to
pierce the inner wall of the balloon when the external cover is fixed onto the lighting or
sounding device.
The inlet end has a top ring with a hollow middle part and a projecting top
protrusion fixed onto the top ring via two side walls. The lighting lamp or sounder is held
by the top ring to move so as to expose the air channel for discharging air.
The lighting lamp or sounder is elastically provided within the air channel and
is supported by an elastic mechanism fixed inside the air channel and electrically
conductive to close a control circuit of the lighting lamp or sounder. The elastic
mechanism usually applies a metal spring or a metal spring plate.
The housing of the lighting or sounding device has an extending portion at the
inlet end, which extends outwards for people to blow air into the balloon.
The lighting or sounding device is able to be installed at, tied to, or fixed onto a
balloon nozzle; the lighting device is also able to be installed at any position other than
the balloon nozzle and be fixed onto the balloon wall, either way is able to implement the
present invention. The balloon and the lighting or sounding device is able to be bound
together with an O-ring, a rope or a rubber ring; or the balloon is able to be pressed onto
the lighting or sounding device by hydraulic pressure; or the balloon is able to be fixed
onto the lighting or sounding device by adhesives.
A structure implementing the present invention uses an inner pressure of the
balloon to start the lighting lamp or sounder, which makes the control of the lighting
lamp or sounder easier and more liable.
Besides, the present invention allows provision of the lighting lamp or sounder
either inside the balloon or at the balloon nozzle, which makes the lighting lamp or
sounder easier to use; and since no additional control mechanism is needed, the present
invention does not produce pollutive waste and is more environmental friendly and
energy conservative.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is an exploded diagram of the first embodiment of the presented invention.
Fig. 2 is a diagram of the first embodiment during inflation.
Fig. 3 is a diagram of the inflated first embodiment with an illuminated lighting lamp.
Fig. 4 is a diagram of the second embodiment of the presented invention.
Fig. 5 is a diagram of the second embodiment during inflation.
Fig. 6 is a diagram of the inflated second embodiment with an illuminated lighting lamp.
Fig. 7 is a diagram of the third embodiment of the presented invention.
Fig. 8 is a diagram of the third embodiment during inflation.
Fig. 9 is a diagram of the inflated third embodiment with an illuminated lighting lamp.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
To explain the objects, technical solutions and advantages of the present
invention in a clearer way, here is a detailed description with reference to the drawings
and the embodiment. It is to be understood that any embodiment described herein is
intended to be illustrative, without any limitation to the present invention.
Fig. 1 shows the first embodiment of the present invention, which is a lighting
device and mainly comprises, as shown, an LED lamp 1, a holder 3, button batteries 4
and a housing 5.
In the embodiment, two contact pieces extend from a back end of the LED lamp
1, wherein a first contact piece 11 is directly connected between the LED lamp 1 and the
button batteries 4; and a second contact piece 12 bends outwards, extends along an outer
wall of the holder 3 to a back of the button batteries 4, and then bends inwards to form a
bent portion 13 that is directed at the back of the button batteries 4 and is able to be
connected to the button batteries 4 via a spring coil 72 so as to close an electric circuit
and illuminate the LED lamp 1.
The button batteries 4 normally number 1 to 4 (the drawings show two batteries
in a way not limiting the number thereof in other implementations), which are provided
along with the LED lamp 1 inside the holder 3 and are fixedly supported by the holder 3.
The holder 3 is sleeved with the hollow housing 5 with an inlet 51 at one end and an
outlet 52 at the other end, and a clearance between the housing 5 and the holder 3
constitutes an air channel 6. An inwardly inclined wall 53 is provided at an inner side of
the inlet 51 while a ring-shaped seal coil 2 is fixed onto an outer wall of the holder 3, and
the seal coil 2 projects from the outer wall of the holder and is able to be clamped onto
the inclined wall 53 more and more tightly to seal the air channel 6.
To fix the lighting device onto a balloon wall, the housing 5 is fitted to an
external cover 8 to get fixed. To be specific, the housing 5 has a projecting external
thread 54 in an outer wall of a trailing end while the external cover 8 has an internal
thread 82 in an inner wall, the external thread 54 engages with the internal thread 82 to
fix the housing 5 with the external cover 8, and furthermore, the balloon wall passes
between the housing 5 and the external cover 8 so that the two are fixed thereto. (The
internal thread 82 and the external thread 54 may have the same function in a way of
indentation.)
In respect that the air channel 6 needs an exhaust passage, the balloon wall has
to be pierced after the external cover 8 fixes the balloon wall and the housing 5 together,
so an exhaust port 81 is provided at a center of the external cover 8 and a piercing cover 7
is further provided between the external cover 8 and the housing 5, which is a ring-
shaped cover (the piercing cover is not necessarily ring-shaped as long as the piercing
cover is able to pierce the balloon wall) and has a projecting spike 71 directed at the
exhaust port 81 at the center. When the external cover 8 fixes the balloon wall and the
housing 5 together, a middle part of the external cover 8 will be concaved if the external
cover 8 is pressed hard, and the spike 71 will protrude into the exhaust port 81 to pierce
the balloon wall so as to form the exhaust passage.
The piercing cover 7 is further sleeved with a spring coil 72 made of metal to
contact the bent portion 13 of the contact piece 12 and the button batteries 4.
In other implementations without a piercing cover 7, the spring coil 72 is
directly fixed to the housing 5 instead, and the balloon wall is pierced from outside to
form an air channel.
With reference to Figs. 2 and 3, the lighting device is installed inside the
balloon 9 and fixed onto the balloon wall. During inflation of the balloon 9 through a
balloon nozzle 91, a pressure inside the balloon 9 is very low at beginning and a pressure
difference between inside and outside the balloon is negligible, but when the inner
pressure reaches a certain level, the pressure difference is large enough to discharge air
through the air channel 6 in a direction of a arrow; then, the exhaust air pushes the holder
3 provided within the air channel 6 to slide outwards along the air channel 6 bringing the
seal coil 2 on the holder 3 into contact with the inclined wall 53; and the air channel 6
will be sealed up to stop discharging air from the balloon 9 when the seal coil 2 comes
into sealing contact with the inclined wall 53.
As the spring coil 72 is settled in the housing 5, the metal spring coil 72 gets
held by the button batteries 4 when the holder 3 is sliding outwards, and the spring coil
72 gets compressed and comes into contact with both the button batteries 4 and the bent
portion 13 formed by the contact piece 12 extending backwards, thereby connecting the
circuit and illuminating the LED lamp 1.
When the balloon 9 is deflated, the pressure difference between inside and
outside the balloon 9 disappears and the spring coil 72 gets restored freely and releases
the button batteries 4 and the holder 3, and once the spring coil 72 is no longer in contact
with the button batteries and the bent portion 13 formed by the contact piece 12
extending backwards, the circuit is disconnected and the LED lamp 1 is turned off.
In this way, the lighting device will be turned on under an effect of the internal
pressure in the balloon and turned off once the internal pressure disappears. Such a
structure achieves good results and is easy to use and control for requiring no other
control mechanism.
Figs. 4~6 show the second embodiment of the present invention, which, as
shown in Fig. 4, is a lighting device and mainly comprises an LED lamp 110, a holder
130, button batteries 140 and a housing 150.
Likewise, two contact pieces extend from a back end of the LED lamp 110,
wherein a first contact piece 111 is directly connected between the LED lamp 110 and the
button batteries 140, and a second contact piece 112 bends outwards and extends along
the outer wall of the holder 130 to the back of the button batteries 140.
The button batteries 140 normally number 1 to 4 (the drawings show two
batteries in a way not limiting the number thereof in other implementations), which are
provided along with the LED lamp 110 inside the holder 130 and are fixedly supported
by the holder 130. The holder 130 is sleeved with the hollow housing 150 with an inlet at
one end and an outlet at the other end, and a clearance between the housing 150 and the
holder 130 constitutes an air channel 160. An inwardly inclined wall 151 is provided at
an inner side of the outlet while a ring-shaped seal coil 120 is fixed onto an outer wall of
the holder 130, and the seal coil 120 projects from the outer wall of the holder 130 and is
able to be clamped onto the inclined wall 151 more and more tightly to seal the air
channel 160.
In this embodiment, the lighting device is usually provided at the balloon
nozzle, so the housing 150 has two projections 152 and 154 at a middle part to form
therebetween a ring-shaped groove 153 where an O-ring 191 for fixing the balloon and
the lighting device is provided. Fixing the lighting device at the nozzle 192 of the balloon
190 makes it possible to put the lighting device of the present invention in the balloon
nozzle, and thereby normal use of the balloon is not affected as the balloon is still able to
be tied to a pipe or other accessories after inflation.
A metal spring coil 170 (or a metal spring plate, instead) within the air channel
160 functions as an elastic mechanism for connecting the contact piece 112 and the
button batteries 140 to close the circuit. The metal spring coil 170 has a top ring 180 at
the outer end, which is fixed on the inner wall of the housing 150 for positioning the
metal spring coil 170. The ring-shaped top ring 180 has a top protrusion 181 projecting
from the center, which is fixed to the top ring 180 via a side wall 182.
The top ring 180 is used to position the metal spring coil 170, and the top
protrusion 181 is mainly used to hold the metal spring coil 170. Another function of the
top protrusion 181 lies in that by pressing the top protrusion 181, the button batteries 140
and the holder 130 are held and pushed into the balloon so as to deflate the balloon.
With reference to Figs. 5 and 6, air enters the balloon 190 in a direction of an
arrow when the balloon 190 is inflated. At a beginning of inflation, the pressure inside
the balloon 190 is very low and the pressure difference between inside and outside the
balloon is negligible, but when the inner pressure reaches a certain level, the pressure
difference is large enough to discharge air from the balloon through the air channel 160
so as to maintain pressure balance.
During discharge of the air, the exhaust air pushes the holder 130 provided
within the air channel 160 to slide outwards along the air channel 160 bringing the seal
coil 120 on the holder 130 into contact with the inclined wall 151, and the air channel 160
will be sealed up to stop discharging air from the balloon 190 when the seal coil 120
comes into sealing contact with the inclined wall 151.
At this time, the holder 130 is sliding outwards under the pressure and is
displaced to such a position that the metal spring coil 170 gets held by the button batteries
140, gets compressed and comes into contact with both the button batteries 140 and the
contact piece 112, thereby connecting the circuit and illuminating the LED lamp 110.
The inflated balloon 190 is able to be deflated by pressing the top protrusion
181 inwards; when the pressure difference between inside and outside the balloon 190 is
reduced to zero, the spring coil 170 gets restored freely and releases the button batteries
140 and the holder 130; and once the spring coil 170 is no longer in contact with the
button batteries 140 and the contact piece 112, the circuit is disconnected and the LED
lamp 110 is turned off.
In this embodiment, the lighting device is placed inside the balloon nozzle 192
and is fixed by the O-ring 191, whereas the outer end of the balloon nozzle 192 still has a
structure of a flexible balloon wall. The balloon is able to be inflated in conventional
ways, like by blowing with mouth, or using tools. After the balloon gets inflated, the
nozzle 192 is able to be tied with a string or wound into a knot itself to achieve air
tightness, and then the balloon is able to be hung up, stuck to a wall with an adhesive, or
attached to a rod for use and entertainment.
Figs. 7~9 show the third embodiment of the present invention, which, as shown
in Fig. 7, is a lighting device and mainly comprises an LED lamp 210, a holder 230,
button batteries 240 and a housing 250.
Likewise, two contact pieces extend from a back end of the LED lamp 210,
wherein a first contact piece 211 is directly connected between the LED lamp 210 and the
button batteries 240, and a second contact piece 212 bends outwards and extends along
the outer wall of the holder 230 to the back of the button batteries 240.
The button batteries 240 normally number 1 to 4 (the drawings show two
batteries in a way not limiting the number thereof in other implementations), which are
provided along with the LED lamp 210 inside the holder 230 and are fixedly supported
by the holder 230. The holder 230 is sleeved with the hollow housing 250 with an inlet at
one end and an outlet at the other end, and a clearance between the housing 250 and the
holder 230 constitutes an air channel 260. An inwardly inclined wall 251 is provided at
an inner side of the outlet while a ring-shaped seal coil 220 is fixed onto an outer wall of
the holder 230, and the seal coil 220 projects from the outer wall of the holder 230 and is
able to be clamped onto the inclined wall 251 more and more tightly to seal the air
channel 260.
This embodiment is similar to the embodiment shown in Fig. 4 in that the
lighting device is usually provided at the balloon nozzle, so the housing 250 firstly has an
extending portion 252 with two projections 254 at the back end and an outer end
convenient for handhold. The extending portion 252 further has a projecting ring 253 to
attach a string so that the balloon is able to be dragged or tied on other articles.
A metal spring coil 270 is provided within the air channel 260 for connecting
the contact piece 212 and the button batteries 240 to close a circuit. The metal spring coil
270 has a top ring 280 at an outer end, which is fixed on an inner wall of the housing 250.
The ring-shaped top ring 280 has a top protrusion 281 projecting from a center, which is
fixed to the top ring 280 via a side wall 282.
The top protrusion 281 is mainly used to hold the metal spring coil 270, but
another function thereof lies in that by pressing the top protrusion 281, the button
batteries 240 and the holder 230 are held and pushed into the balloon so as to deflate the
balloon.
With reference to Figs. 8 and 9, when the balloon 290 is integrated with the
lighting device of the present invention, the two are able to be tightly fixed together by
sleeving the projections 254 with the balloon nozzle 291 and providing a seal ring 292
between the two projections 254.
As shown in Fig. 8, air enters the balloon 290 in a direction of an arrow when
the balloon 290 is inflated. At a beginning of inflation, the pressure inside the balloon
290 is very low and the pressure difference between inside and outside the balloon is
negligible, but when the inner pressure reaches a certain level, the pressure difference is
large enough to discharge air from the balloon through the air channel 260 so as to
maintain pressure balance.
As shown in Fig. 9, during discharge of the air, the exhaust air pushes the holder
230 provided within the air channel 260 to slide outwards along the air channel 260
bringing the seal coil 220 on the holder 230 into contact with the inclined wall 251, and
the air channel 260 will be sealed up to stop discharging air from the balloon 290 when
the seal coil 220 comes into sealing contact with the inclined wall 251.
At this time, the holder 230 is sliding outwards under the pressure and is
displaced to such a position that the metal spring coil 270 gets held by the button batteries
240, gets compressed and comes into contact with both the button batteries 240 and the
contact piece 212, thereby connecting the circuit and illuminating the LED lamp 210.
The inflated balloon 290 is able to be deflated by pressing the top protrusion
281 inwards; when the pressure difference between inside and outside the balloon 290 is
reduced to zero, the spring coil 270 gets restored freely and releases the button batteries
240 and the holder 230; and once the spring coil 270 is no longer in contact with the
button batteries 240 and the contact piece 212, the circuit is disconnected and the LED
lamp 210 is turned off.
The foregoing is only a description of the present invention in combination with
preferred embodiments, and the modes for implementation of the present invention are
not limited thereby in any way. Any simple derivation or replacement that may be made
by those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention is
covered under the protection scope claimed therein.
Claims (7)
1. A lighting or sounding device activated by inflation of a balloon, comprising a lighting lamp or sounder, a battery, and a housing at least covering the lighting lamp or sounder, wherein the housing comprises: an inlet end to let air or other gases into the housing, an outlet end to discharge the air or the other gases from the housing, and an air channel to connect the inlet end and the outlet end so that a through passage for air flow is formed within the housing; wherein the lighting lamp or sounder is provided within the air channel and has a sealing device for sealing off the air channel, and wherein the lighting lamp or sounder has a supporting and fixing holder that covers the lighting lamp or sounder at least from one cross-section so that the lighting lamp or sounder has an outer wall at the cross-section, said outer wall is sleeved with the sealing device in a ring-shaped structure, and is located within the air channel, and the lighting lamp or sounder has an electrical connection for connecting a control circuit of the lighting lamp or sounder to the battery, whereby an increase in pressure inside the balloon as it inflates causes a discharge of air through the air channel so that the lighting lamp or sounder to slides in the direction of the discharge and brings the outer wall into sealing connection with a reduced cross-section portion of the air channel while also bringing the lighting lamp or sounder into electrical connection with the battery.
2. The lighting or sounding device activated by inflation of a balloon according to claim 1, wherein the sealing device is selected from the group consisting of an O-ring, a seal ring, and a seal coil.
3. The lighting or sounding device activated by inflation of a balloon according to claim 1, wherein the sealing device of the lighting lamp or sounder is a seal coil or a seal ring projecting from an exterior margin of the lighting lamp or sounder.
4. The lighting or sounding device activated by inflation of a balloon according to claim 1, wherein the air channel forms a reduced neck portion around which a platform is provided; a seal gasket is provided at one end of the lighting lamp or sounder, which projects from the end of the lighting lamp or sounder and has a flat contact surface; and said seal gasket has a diameter larger than a diameter of the reduced neck portion so that the contact surface is able to form a sealing contact with the platform.
5. The lighting or sounding device activated by inflation of a balloon according to claim 5, wherein the inner wall of the housing has a bell-like structure, the lighting lamp or sounder sleeved with the seal coil or seal ring is located inside the bell, and a clearance between the lighting lamp or sounder and the housing constitutes the air channel.
6. The lighting or sounding device activated by inflation of a balloon according to claim 1, wherein the lighting or sounding device is provided inside a balloon and is fixed onto an inner wall of the balloon by an external cover with an exhaust port connected to the outlet end of the lighting or sounding device to form the air channel; and, a piercing device is provided where the lighting or sounding device contacts the inner wall of the balloon within the external cover, and has a pointed tip to pierce the inner wall of the balloon when the external cover is fixed onto the lighting or sounding device to form the air channel.
7. The lighting or sounding device activated by inflation of a balloon according to claim 1, wherein the inlet end has a top ring with a hollow middle part and a projecting top protrusion fixed onto the top ring via two side walls.
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
CN201110337121.1A CN102500114B (en) | 2011-10-31 | 2011-10-31 | Lighting/ sounding device used for balloon aerating startup |
CN201110337121.1 | 2011-10-31 | ||
PCT/CN2012/070042 WO2013063869A1 (en) | 2011-10-31 | 2012-01-04 | Lighting/sound-producing device activated by inflated balloon |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
NZ624279A NZ624279A (en) | 2015-05-29 |
NZ624279B2 true NZ624279B2 (en) | 2015-09-01 |
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