US2776530A - Figure with balloon inflating means - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 8, 1957 W. c. BAUMGARDNER 2,776,530

FIGURE WITH BALLOON INFLATING MEANS Jan. 8, 1957 v w. c. BAUMGARDNl-:R 2,776,530

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United States Patent Olice 2,776,530 FIGURE WITH BALLOON INFLATING MEANS William C. Baumgardner, Bayside, N. Y., assignor to Punch and Judy, Savannah, Ga., a corporation of Georgia Application March 18, 1954, Serial No. 417,207 6 Claims. (Cl. 53-268) My present invention relates to pumping apparatus and more particularly to a pump adapted to be used as a toy for blowing up balloons and other small devices. My invention is also directed to a particular arrangement and mounting of the pumps in a decorative platform or housing wherein at least one portion of the decorative housing constitutes a part of the pump itself and where the housing or support is integrated with the pump in such manner that a unitary, readily utilizable structure is achieved.

My invention contemplates arranging a housing in the shape, for instance, of a head of a clown wherein the decorative ornament at the peak of the cap of the clown will constitute the handle of the pump and Where a portion of the clowns mouth is modified to form a nozzle for the pump.

My invention also contemplates a modification of the pump nozzle so that a simplilied means is provided for attaching a balloon to the nozzle in a manner so that it will not be blown off when the balloon is pumped with air, the arrangement being such that even a small child may operate it.

The object of my invention, therefore, is the provision of a novel pump apparatus particularly adapted for use as a toy or in connection with toys and so arranged that the platform or housing in which the same is contained is modified so that design elements of the platform or housing constitute operative portions of the pump.

The foregoing and many other objects of my invention will become apparent in the following description and drawings, in which:

Figure l is a front elevation of one form which my invention may take.

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional View taken on line 2 2 of Figure 1.

Figure 2a is a fragmentary view corresponding to the upper portion of Figure 2 showing a slight modilication of the structure of Figure 2.

Figure 3 is a top plan view partly in cross-section taken from line`3-3 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a View in perspective with the ornamental cover removed of the support elements of my novel dev1ce.

Figure 5 is a side elevation `of a modified form of my invention showing a full enclosure for the pump apparatus of Figures l to 4.

Figure 6 is a cross sectional view taken on line 66 of Figure 5 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 7 is a side elevation partly in cross-section of another modified form of the device of Figures 1 to 4.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary view in perspective showing the initial operation of a sealing means for the balloon which is pumped up by the apparatus of Figures 1 to 7.

Figure 9 is a View corresponding to that of Figure 8 showing a completion of the operation there shown.

Referring to Figures 1 to 4, my novel device comprises base 10 dado cut transversely at 11 to provide a support for the back panel 12. A metallic support member 13 is provided having a bottom section 14 secured in any suitable manner as by the screw 15 to the base 1li, a vertical section 16 extending parallel to the back panel 12, the said vertical section 16 having a resilient bent upwardly extending section 17.

A portion of the vertical section 16 of the metal sup- 2,77 6,530 Patented Jan. 8, 1957 port member -14 is secured in any suitable manner as by the rivet 20 to the back panel 12. Vertical support section 16 in the region of the rivet 2l) is also provided with laterally extending clamp members 21 22 which may be integral with section 16 or may be separately formed as a single continuous clamp and integrated with the section 16 and the back panel 12 by the securement member or rivet 2i).

Clamp sections 21 or 22 are curved in order to secure the pump cylinder 23 between them. The clamp sections 21 and 22 are re-entrantly bent to form the sections 24 and 25 extending parallel to each other. Sections 24 and 25 are provided with registering openings through which the nut and bolt assembly 26 may be passed, rotation of the bolt in the nut tightening the clamp members 21 and 22 on the pump cylinder 23.

The section 17 of the vertical support above the rivet 20 and the section of the vertical support 16 below the rivet 20 bear against the pump cylinder 23 as shown, particularly in Figure 2 in order to position the pump cylinder 23 accurately.

The pump cylinder is provided with a piston rod 30 and a knob 31 at the end of the piston rod 30 for operating the pump in a manner well-known in the art. The nozzle 32 of pump cylinder 23 is connected by coupling 33 which may be flexible to the external nozzle 35. External nozzle 35 is carried by flange 36 of the support section 37 of the metal support member 13.

Nozzle 35 comprises a shaped member which will hereinafter be more fully described, having an axial bore 4u which may be formed in the material or may be an inserted tube extending at 40a towards the back of the nozzle. Tube 40a extends through an appropriate opening in flange 36 and the nozzle 35 and the tube 40a are secured to flange 36 in any suitable manner as by the clamp or lock washer 41 or it may be a tight fit on the nozzle element.

The end 42 of the coupling 33 is coupled in any suitable manner to nozzle tube 40a.

lt will thus be obvious that raising and lowering pump handle 31 will drive air through the nozzle opening 4t) of nozzle 35. The entire system shown in Figure 4 is en closed and completed by the decorative clown ligure 50 ot' Figures l and 2, the said clown ligure 50 being formed of suitable material shaped to simulate such ligure and appropriately decorated.

The edges of the cover member 5i! which comprises the clown ligure are secured to the edges of back panel 12 in any suitable manner as by the rivets 52. Other means of securement may, of course, be provided and if desired, a back piece may be fitted on the other side of back snpport panel 12 in order to provide a fully rounded figure.

lt will be seen that the pump handle 31 thus forms the knob, tassel or pom-pom at the top of the clowns hat 53 while the nozzle 35 extends through an opening 54 of the ligure for cover section 59 simulating the mouth of the gure.

Clamp portions 24 and 25 of the clamp members are provided with lateral extensions 6i? and 61 having button like extensions 62 and 63 forwardly thereof, the said button like extension being formed in any suitable manner as, for example, by rivets; the said extensions 62 and 63 also appear through the mouth opening 54.

The nozzle 35 is shaped with a plurality of ridges 65, 66, 67, as shown, providing friction elements for receiving and supporting the mouth of a toy balloon. In order to prevent the balloon from being blown oli while it is pumped up, an elastic member 70 is provided having loops 71 and 72. Loop 71 of the elastic member 70 is mounted over the extension 62 and may, if desired, be permanently secured thereto. After the balloon is placed over the nozzle 35, the elastic member 70 with loop 71 thereof secured to extension 62 is stretched, wound once or twice around the portion of the balloon on nozzle 35 and the other loop 72 is secured to extension 63. This serves to secure the balloon in position on the nozzle so that it will not be blown off while the balloonis pumped up. By this means, a full 360 clamp is provlded for' the balloon which is extremely simple in construction and so 'simple in operation that a child may 'utilize the same.

'Thus, in the operation of my novel device, a child places the mouth of the balloon as far up on nozzle 35 as he can. He winds the elastic member' 7) which is already attached by loop 71 to extension 62 once or twice around the portion of the balloon mounted on nozzle 3S and secures the loop 72 on extension 63. He then moves the handle 31 up and down to pump up the balloon. After the balloon is pumped up, it, of course, becomes necessary to remove the same without losing air.

For this method, l provide the novel method shown in Figures 8 and 9. The balloon, while it is mounted on the nozzle 35 in blown up condition, is rotated to wind up as much slack as possible. A small card 80, as shown in Figure 8, provided with notches 81, 82, 83, 84, is then placed over the twisted section with the portion of thc twist section adjacent to the body of the balloon caught in notch 82. The balloon may then be pulled off the nozzle 35 without losing appreciable air. immediately after the mouth 90 of the balloon is twisted up through notch 84 of car-d 80 and down into notch 83. This serves to seal the balloon.

In Figures l and 2, the clown figure 50 and back panel 12 are shown so that a complete opening 92 at the top appears. The clown gure cover member 50 may be curved and shaped as shown in Figure 2a at 59a to fully enclose the top with an opening 94 provided for the piston rod 30.

In Figures and 6, l have shown a modied form of my novel device in which the same pump cylinder 23, piston rod 30, pump handle 31, nozzle 32, flexible coupling 33 and nozzle 35a may be used. In this modification, however, the front section 150 and the back section 112 are molded plastic units which Imay be molded in separate halves and cemented together along the line indicated by seam G. Top and bottom support sections 116 and 114 may be provided for the pump cylinder 23, the said support sections being recessed to receive the piston rod and nozzle 32; the said sections 116 and 114 may be molded integral with the rear half 112.

The front half 150 may have positioning anges 124 and 125 molded integrally therewith, the inner ends thereof being provided with curved recesses to position the pump cylinder 23. Thus, when the two edges `are molded, the pump cylinder 23 may be placed in position between ilanges 114 and 116, the housing 33 may be connected to the inner extension h of nozzle 35a and then the two sections 112 and 150 may be placed together and cemented.

Nozzle 35a may be molded integrally with the front section 150 and cylindrical bore 40h may be drilled through. In this way, a fully enclosed unit is provided. The extensions or buttons 162 may be provided on either side of the nozzle 35a either molded with the front cover section 150 or mounted on the support on the interior thereof to function in a manner previously described for extensions 62 and 63.

ln Figure 7 l have shown an extremely simple variation of my device in which the base 210 has secured thereto in any suitable manner as by the angle member 211 and other support means if required, the vertical panel 212. The front of the vertical panel 212 may be 7 appropriately decorated as shown in Figure 1 with the buttons 262 mounted thereon and the nozzle 235 secured into it in any suitable manner.

The pump cylinder 23 may be secured to the said panel 212 by a circular clamp 222 attached to the panel 212 by rivets 220. The same general appearance as thatv shown in Figmre l will then result but the device will be extremely simple in construction and appearance.

ln the foregoing, I have described my invention solely in connection with illustrated embodiments thereof, ranging from an extremely inexpensive yet practical embodiment to an embodiment comprising a complete enclosure for the operative members. Since variations and modiiications of my invention will now be obvious to those skilled in the art, I prefer to be bound not by the specific disclosure herein, but only by the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A balloon pump comprising a figure; a pump mechanism carried by said figure; the pump mechanism including a pump handle; the pump handle registering with said iigure and forming a visual part thereof; a nozzle carried by said gure; said pump mechanism being connected to said nozzle; said nozzle having a substantially conical exterior with a series of annular stepped recesses, and an elastic member securable on said gure and windable about said nozzle after a balloon is placed on said nozzle.

2. A balloon pump comprising a ligure; a pump mechanism carried by said figure; the pump mechanism including a pump handle; the pump handle registering with said iigure and forming a visual part thereof; a nozzle carried by said gure; said pump mechanism being connected to said nozzle; said nozzle having a substantially conical exterior with a series of annular stepped recesses, and an elastic member securable on said iigure and windable about said nozzle after a balloon is placed on said nozzle, and means for closing said balloon While the same is on said nozzle.

3. A balloon pump comprising a figure; a pump mechanism carried by said figure; the pump mechanism including a pump handle; the pump handle registering with said iigure and forming a visual part thereof; a nozzle carried by said figure; said pump mechanism being connected to said nozzle; said nozzle having a substantially conical exterior with a series of annular stepped recesses, and an elastic member securable on said ligure and windable about said nozzle after /a balloon is placed on said nozzle, and means for closing said balloon while the same is on said nozzle, said last-mentioned means comprising a notched card, a notch of said card being fttable over the neck of said balloon.

4. A balloon pump comprising a ligure; a pump mechanism carried by said figure; a nozzle carried by said ligure; said pump mechanism being connected to said nozzle; said nozzle having a substantially conical exterior with a series of annular stepped recesses, and an elastic member securable on said gure and windable about said nozzle after a balloon is placed on said nozzle.

5. A balloon pump comprising a gure of a clown, a pump mechanism carried by said gure; the pump mechanism including a pump handle; the clown figure including a hat and a decorative member on the hat; the said decorative member forming a part of the pump handle.

6. A balloon pump comprising a gure of a clown, a pump mechanism carried by said ligure; the pump mechanism including a pump handle; the clown figure including a hat and a decorative member on the hat; the said decorative member forming a part of the pump handle, and a nozzle positioned at the mouth of said clown gure; said pump mechanism being connected to said nozzle; said nozzle having a substantially conical exterior with a series of annular stepped recesses.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 898,105 Herbst Sept. 8, 1908 1,649,530 Holsinger Nov. 15, 1927 1,680,318 Gallahan Aug. 14, 192,8 2,608,795 Marcell Sept. 2, 1952

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