US2651879A

US2651879A - Balloon stick

Info

Publication number: US2651879A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1953-09-15
Anticipated expiration: 1970-09-15

Description

H. A. LONGINO BALLOON STICK Filed Dec. 21, 1951 ATTDRN EYE I I a I I l 1 I Patented Sept. 15,- 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BALLOON STIGK Hugh A. Longino, ODonnell, Tex.

Application December 21, 1951, Serial No. 262,841)

3-Glaims 1 This invention. relates to. a: handle or support for a balloon of a size' suitable for use as a toy; and in particular a handle adapted to be inserted in. a neck of. a balloon. with a cap. for securing the end of the: neck ina groove of the handle: and with a:- telescoping fiutedstem extended from the handle and having a vacuum cup on the extended end;

The purpose of this invention isv to provide a supporting stem for: a; toy balloon which is adjustable to balloons of differentsize's and in which valve means isprovided for controlling the air in the balloon.v

Various devices have been provided for retaining balloons ininflated positions and for holding balloons in different shapes; however, it is diificult to control the air in a balloon and also to provide ingress and egress of. air to and from the balloon as the supporting device isadjusted to difierent sizes. With this thought in mind this invention contemplates a tapering substantially cylindrical member adapted to be inserted in the neck of a balloon to provide a handle with a cap having openings therethrough threaded on the outer end for clamping the end of the neck of the balloon to the handle and with a rod having longitudinally disposed grooves therein and a vacuum cup on the outer end slidably mounted in a sleeve having longitudinally disposed slots in the wall thereof, whereby with the sleeve extended from the handle the rod is adjustable to compensate for the size of the balloon.

The object of this invention is, therefore, to provide means for forming a telescoping supporting stem for a toy balloon whereby air may be forced into the balloon through the stem with the parts of the stem adjusted to different positions.

Another object of the invention is to provide a supporting stem for a balloon that is adapted to be used in conventional balloons without changing the structure of the balloon.

A further object of the invention is to provide a supporting stem for a toy balloon in which the stem is of a simple and economical construction.

With these and other objects and advantages in view the invention embodies a body member having a tapering outer surface with a cap threaded into a nipple at one end of the body member and with a sleeve extended from the opposite end and a rod having grooves in the outer surface and a vacuum cup on the extended end slidably mounted in the sleeve and positioned whereby with the body member in the neck of a 2 balloon the vacuum cup engages the inner surface of the opposite side of the balloon.

Other features and advantagesof the invention will appear from the following description taken in: connection with the drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view showing a section through a balloon. with the supporting stem positioned in the balloon and shown in elevation.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section through the supporting stem of the balloon with parts of the balloon illustrated thereon and with parts of the balloon shown in section and other parts broken away.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section through the cap at the end of the handle of the balloon support with the parts shown on an enlarged scale.

Figure 4 is a cross section through the cap and nipple at the end of the handle being taken on line fi-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a section similar to that shown in Figure 4., being taken on line 5:'5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a cross section through the handle taken on line 6-6 of Figure 2.

Figure 7 is a cross section through the stem taken on line l'! of Figure 2.

Figure 8 is a cross section through the rod taken on line 88 of Figure 2 and showing the vacuum cup at the end of the rod.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts the improved toy balloon supporting stem includes a handle I 0, a sleeve II, a rod i2 slidably mounted in the sleeve, a vacuum cup I 3 positioned on the outer end of the rod, which adheres to the inside of the balloon, a cap l4 threaded in a neck I5 at the end of the handle and a sealing washer I 6 positioned in the nipple and providing a valve.

The handle I0 is provided with a bore I! with an enlarged section l8 extending from a shoulder I9 and, as shown in Figure 2, the sleeve ll extends into the section l8.

The sleeve H is provided with longitudinally disposed slots 20 whereby air entering the bore l! of the handle passes into the sleeve and through the slots 20 into a balloon as indicated by the numeral 2|, and which is positioned with a neck 22 thereof stretched over the handle I0.

The rod I2 is provided with spaced longitudinally disposed slots 23 and the vacuum cup I3 is secured to the extended end of the rod with a hub 24 of the cup frictionally held on the end of the rod.

The handle I is formed with an annular groove 25 having a continuous lip 26, at the base of the nipple i5 and a bead 21 at the end of the neck 22 of the balloon is clamped in the groove 25 by the lower edge of the cap I4 with a tubular section 28 of the cap which is threaded into the nipple l5, as shown in Figure 2.

The cap [4 is provided with a plurality of openings, as indicated by the

numerals

29 and 30, and when it is desired to force air into the balloon the cap is turned whereby the

openings

29 and 30 register with corresponding openings 3| and 32 in the washer [6.

With the parts arranged in this manner the vacuum cup I 3 on the end of the stem is inserted through the neck of a toy balloon and after passing the stem through the neck the handle I0 is forced into the neck with the bead at the end of the neck positioned in the groove 25 at the end of the handle.

The supporting device is adapted to be extended in the balloon as air is forced therein and after expanding the balloon to the size desired the cap [4 is turned whereby the bead 2'! is clamped in the groove 25 and wherein the

openings

29 and 30 are offset in relation to the openings 3| and 32. By this means air is sealed in the balloon and the balloon is supported in the expanded position.

It will be understood that modifications may be made in the design and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A balloon supporting stick comprising a handle having a bore therethrough, said handle having inlet openings therein positioned in the handle in communication with the bore of the handle, and a cap having inlet openings therein threaded on the end of the handle opposite to that from which the sleeve extends and adapted to be rotated so that the inlet openings in the cap and washer are in alinement to permit the entrance of air into the bore of the handle or rotated so that the inlet openings in the cap and washer are out of alinement to seal the bore through the handle.

2. A balloon supporting stick as described in claim 1, wherein the handle is provided with an annular groove and the end of the neck of a balloon in which the device is positioned may be clamped in the groove by the cap threaded on the end of the handle.

3. In a balloon supporting stick, the combination which comprises a handle having a bore and having a substantially cylindrical tapering outer surface, said handle having an internally threaded nipple extended from one end and an annular groove positioned around the nipple, a balloon having a neck positioned in the groove, a sealing washer positioned in the nipple having inlet openings therein to permit the entrance of air into the bore of the handle, a cap threaded in the nipple to close said inlet openings, and a telescoping stem positioned in the bore of the handle having slots therein having communication with the bore of the handle to permit the exit of air from the bore of the handle and a vacuum cup on the extended end positioned in the balloon.

HUGH A. LONGINO.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,223,638 Peterson Dec. 3, 1940 2,237,751 Bunin Apr. 8, 1941 2,524,059 Kennedy Oct. 3, 1950