WO1995024954A1 - Dispositif de lestage d'un ballon - Google Patents

Dispositif de lestage d'un ballon Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO1995024954A1
WO1995024954A1 PCT/US1995/003057 US9503057W WO9524954A1 WO 1995024954 A1 WO1995024954 A1 WO 1995024954A1 US 9503057 W US9503057 W US 9503057W WO 9524954 A1 WO9524954 A1 WO 9524954A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
balloon
container
tether
ballast weight
integral ballast
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US1995/003057
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Leslie W. Barton
Freddie Lee Karr
Original Assignee
Classic Balloon Corp.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Classic Balloon Corp. filed Critical Classic Balloon Corp.
Priority to AU19958/95A priority Critical patent/AU1995895A/en
Publication of WO1995024954A1 publication Critical patent/WO1995024954A1/fr

Links

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
    • 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
    • A63H2027/1008—Anchoring means or weights
    • 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
    • A63H2027/1041—Holding or sealing means, e.g. handling rods, clamps or plugs

Definitions

  • the present invention relates generally to balloons, and more particularly to balloon tethers with ballast weights incorporated therein.
  • Balloons whether latex, plastic, or metallized plastic, are frequently filled with helium or similar lighter-than-air gases in order to allow the balloon to rise upwardly in the air.
  • the lighter-than-air nature of the balloon represents the chief attraction of the balloon to children.
  • Such balloons are generally held by a tethered string so that the balloon does not rise out of control into the air.
  • a growing problem with the use of such balloons is that they frequently escape the clutches of the holder (especially children) and rise upwardly in a free floating manner into the lower atmosphere.
  • Such free-flying balloons have been known to cause interference problems with air traffic as well as high tension power lines. Additionally, when the large numbers of balloons over a period of time break and fall to the ground, widespread pollution problems are created.
  • FIG. 1 Deflated and folded balloons 12 are manufactured and supplied to the retailer in bulk (for example, 500 to a box), in bags or sleeves containing multiple balloons or individually in bags. Manufacturers also distribute tether lines 14 and ballast weights 16 to the retailer. Normally, the retailer will collect one of each of these items in connection with each balloon sale at the point of purchase, fill the balloon 12 with helium, attach the tether line 14 to the balloon, and then tie the ballast weight 16 to the free end of the tether line 14.
  • the ballast weight 16 is chosen to be heavy enough to counteract the upward buoyancy of the helium-filled balloon 12 such that the balloon 12 will not float upward beyond the length of the tether line 14 if released.
  • the completed assembly of the prior art device is illustrated in FIG. 2. It can be seen that the ballast weight 16 remains in contact with the ground 18, preventing the balloon 12 from floating away.
  • the use of such ballast weights with the balloons presents several problems.
  • the ballast weights represent a not insignificant cost increase for each balloon sold, an increase in the shipping cost for each balloon, an added cost for labor at the retail outlet associated with affixing the ballast weights to each balloon, a decrease in product quality if the ballast weights are shipped with the balloons, since the ballast weights can damage the collapsed balloons in the shipping package, and an additional use of natural resources, including the added amount of non-biodegradable garbage introduced into the environment after the balloon and ballast weight are disposed of (most ballast weights are made of plastic).
  • the present invention uses the balloon shipping container itself as the balloon ballast weight by attaching one end of a tether line to the deflated balloon and the other end of the tether line to the shipping container prior to shipment. The balloon is then placed in the shipping container and the container is sealed. When the balloon is to be used, the shipping container is opened, the deflated balloon is pulled from therein and inflated.
  • a balloon and integral ballast weight comprising a balloon adapted to be inflated with a quantity of lighter-than-air gas, a tether coupled to the balloon and a container coupled to the tether and substantially enclosing the balloon and tether prior to inflation, wherein a combined weight of the tether and container is sufficient to prevent the balloon, when inflated, from pulling the container substantially off of a surface.
  • a balloon and integral ballast weight comprising a balloon adapted to be inflated with a quantity of lighter-than-air gas, a tether coupled to the balloon and a container coupled to the tether and sealed along a periphery thereof so as to completely enclose the balloon prior to inflation and substantially enclose the tether, the container having a perforation to facilitate removal of one end thereof for removal of the balloon, wherein a combined weight of the tether and container is sufficient to prevent the balloon, when inflated, from puUing the container substantially off of a surface.
  • a balloon and integral ballast weight comprising a balloon adapted to be inflated with a quantity of lighter-than-air gas, a tether coupled to the balloon and a container coupled to the tether and sealed along a periphery thereof so as to completely enclose the balloon prior to inflation and substantially enclose the tether, the container being perforated in order to facilitate removal of all ends but one thereof, such that the balloon may be removed therefrom and a remaining portion of the container is adapted for use as a greeting card, wherein a combined weight of the tether and container is sufficient to prevent the balloon, when inflated, from pulling the container substantially off of a surface.
  • a balloon and integral ballast weight comprising a balloon inflated with a quantity of lighter-than-air gas, a tether coupled to th balloon and a ballast weight coupled to the tether, the ballast weight comprising a portion o a container used to store the balloon and tether, wherein a combined weight of the tether and ballast weight is sufficient to prevent the balloon, when inflated, from pulling the ballast weight substantially off of a surface.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a prior art balloon, tether and ballast weight kit
  • FIG. 2 is a plan view of the prior art balloon kit of FIG. 1 after assembly
  • FIG. 3 is a partial cut-away view of a first embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 4 is a plan view of the first embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 5 is a plan view of a second embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 6 is a partial cut-away view of a third embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the third embodiment of the present invention.
  • the present invention relates to balloon ballast weights.
  • a first embodiment of a balloon ballast weight of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 3, and indicated generally at 20.
  • a balloon 22 is deflated (it's interior cavity at ambient atmospheric pressure) and folded.
  • the balloon 22 may be of any type, including latex, plastic or metallized plastic.
  • Balloon 22 includes a self-sealing valve 24 as is known in the art, around which a proximal end of a tether line 26 is fastened.
  • the tether line 26 is preferably a serrated ribbon and may be attached to the balloon 22 by adhesive, heat sealing, tying or by any other sufficient means.
  • the bulk of the tether line 26 is coiled, hanked or otherwise compressed (by wrapping it around balloon 22, tying it, wrapping it on a spool, slipping a plastic sleeve over it, or by any other sufficient means) and the balloon 22 with attached tether line 26 is placed within shipping container 28.
  • the shipping container 28 is made of polyethylene film, but any suitable material may be used.
  • Container 28 may be made from two rolls of polyethylene material or a single roll folded over, as is known in the art.
  • the shipping container 28 is heat sealed at a top edge 30 and two side edges 32 and 34.
  • a perforation 36 is preferably provided in the front and back side material of container 28 near the top edge (but below seal 30) so that the container may be conveniently opened after sale.
  • a single perforation may be provided on only the front side, so that after the perforation is opened, access may be had to the inside of the container 28 without creating anything to be thrown away.
  • other materials and sealing methods may be used for shipping container 28.
  • the container 28 may be made of a heavy paper stock and the edges may be sealed with glue or other adhesive.
  • the distal end of the tether line 26 is placed so as to protrude from the bottom of the shipping container 28, and the bottom two edges of container 28 are then heat sealed together, as indicated at 38. This results in the distal end of the tether line 26 becoming relatively permanently attached to the shipping container 28 at the seal 38 location. Additionally, the balloon 22 and tether line 26 are now completely sealed within the container 28 for shipping and also for point of purchase display.
  • the retailer tears the shipping container 28 along the perforations 36 so as to completely remove the top end of the container 28.
  • the collapsed and folded balloon 22 is then pulled from the container 28 and filled with helium or some other lighter-than-air gas.
  • the inflated balloon 22 is illustrated in FIG. 4.
  • the balloon 22 is buoyant, and tends to rise upwards. This upward lift is checked by the tether line 26 attached to the balloon 22 and by the container 28 attached to the tether line 26.
  • the weight of the container 28 is therefore used as the ballast weight for the balloon 22, eUminating the need for the separate ballast weight 16 of the prior art.
  • the only requirement for balloon ballast 28 is that its weight be sufficient to provide enough ballast to prevent balloon 22 from floating away after it is filled with the intended volume of gas.
  • the balloon ballast 28 will remain with the balloon 22 throughout its life: shipping, storage, retail display, inflation of the balloon, use of the balloon and after discarding of the balloon.
  • the balloon ballast 28 may be printed in a decorative manner (such as with a picture of the balloon 22), it may be used as a "to” and "from” tag or as a greeting card. Additionally, the balloon ballast 28 may be in a specific shape, such as a person, animal, car or the like.
  • the balloon ballast of the present invention therefore will prevent a lighter-than-air balloon from floating away, as do prior art balloon ballasts, but the present invention does not add a significant amount of cost to the balloon, does not lower the product quality of the balloon by damaging the balloon during shipment, does not use additional natural resources, and does not create extra garbage when the balloon is discarded.
  • the present invention therefore represents a significant advance over the prior art and conveniently solves several problems inherent in the prior art devices.
  • FIG. 5 there is illustrated a second embodiment of the present invention, illustrated generally at 40.
  • Device 40 is identical to the device 20 of FIGs. 3 and 4 except that the distal end of tether line 26 is not incorporated into the bottom heat seal 38 of the shipping container 28. Instead, the distal end of tether line 26 is passed from the inside of container 28 through a hole 42 near the bottom center of the container 28 and then tied thereto.
  • the second embodiment of the present invention provides all of the advantages of the first embodiment, but may be used when it is not feasible or desirable to run the heat seal 38 over the distal end of the tether line 26.
  • the tether line 26 may be heat sealed to the container 28 and then the distal end of the tether line 26 may be knotted in order to prevent it from accidentally pulling through the heat seal 38.
  • the present invention therefore incorporates all such arrangements and modifications.
  • FIG. 6 there is illustrated a third embodiment of the present invention, illustrated generally at 50.
  • a deflated and folded balloon 22 is secured to a tether line 26 at its self sealing valve 24 and placed inside a shipping container 52.
  • Shipping container 52 is preferably made from polyethylene or heavy paper stock and folded at its left edge 54 so as to form equal sized front and back sides.
  • the distal end of tether line 26 is passed from within container 52 through a hole 56 near the top of the container 52 and then tied thereto.
  • the top, bottom and right side edges of container 52 are then sealed by any acceptable means, such as by heat sealing or by adhesive.
  • the front and back sides of container 52 are perforated near the top edge at 58, near the right side edge at 60, and near the bottom at 62.
  • the adhesive or other sealing means is between the perforations 58-62 and the respective edges of container 52.
  • the retailer tears the shipping container 52 along the perforations 58, 60 and 62 so as to form a folded card 68 having a front side 70 and a back side 72.
  • the collapsed and folded balloon 22 is then filled with helium or some other lighter-than-air gas, such that the balloon 22 is buoyant, and tends to rise upwards.
  • This upward lift is checked by the tether line 26 attached to the balloon 22 and by the card 68 attached to the tether line 26.
  • the weight of the card 68 is therefore used as the ballast weight for the balloon 22, eliminating the need for the separate ballast weight 16 of the prior art.
  • balloon ballast 68 The only requirement for balloon ballast 68 is that its weight be sufficient to provide enough ballast to prevent balloon 22 from floating away after it is filled with the intended volume of gas.
  • the front and inside faces of the card 68 may be pre-printed with a greeting or may be left blank for the customer to personalize.

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  • Toys (AREA)

Abstract

Un dispositif de lestage de ballon faisant partie d'un seul ensemble est composé d'un ballon (22) conçu pour être gonflé avec une quantité de gaz plus léger que l'air, d'un cordon (26) accouplé au ballon et d'un réservoir (52) accouplé au cordon et scellé le long de sa périphérie, de manière à enfermer complètement le ballon avant son gonflage et à pratiquement enfermer le cordon; ledit réservoir est pourvu d'une perforation (36) servant à faciliter le retrait d'une de ses extrémités, afin d'enlever le ballon, et la combinaison du poids du cordon et du ballon suffit à empécher le ballon de soulever le réservoir d'une surface, quand il est gonflé. Le réservoir peut également servir de carte de voeux.
PCT/US1995/003057 1994-03-14 1995-03-13 Dispositif de lestage d'un ballon WO1995024954A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU19958/95A AU1995895A (en) 1994-03-14 1995-03-13 Balloon ballast weight

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US21311694A 1994-03-14 1994-03-14
US08/213,116 1994-03-14

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1995024954A1 true WO1995024954A1 (fr) 1995-09-21

Family

ID=22793771

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US1995/003057 WO1995024954A1 (fr) 1994-03-14 1995-03-13 Dispositif de lestage d'un ballon

Country Status (2)

Country Link
AU (1) AU1995895A (fr)
WO (1) WO1995024954A1 (fr)

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4758198A (en) * 1986-09-18 1988-07-19 Ringstone Co., Ltd. Gas-inflatable toy with plural bladders and valve means
US4903958A (en) * 1989-01-23 1990-02-27 Fernando DiCarlo Balloon amusement device
US5005513A (en) * 1989-05-01 1991-04-09 Norman Van Patten Hydrogen gas-filled balloon signalling system
US5035391A (en) * 1990-03-01 1991-07-30 Steele Dennis M Balloon anchor

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4758198A (en) * 1986-09-18 1988-07-19 Ringstone Co., Ltd. Gas-inflatable toy with plural bladders and valve means
US4903958A (en) * 1989-01-23 1990-02-27 Fernando DiCarlo Balloon amusement device
US5005513A (en) * 1989-05-01 1991-04-09 Norman Van Patten Hydrogen gas-filled balloon signalling system
US5035391A (en) * 1990-03-01 1991-07-30 Steele Dennis M Balloon anchor

Non-Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
M&D BALLOONS, Manteno, IL 60950 USA, MICKEY UNLIMITED; SILVER BALLOON; M&D ONEPAC, on sale prior to 01 March 1993. *
VAN DYKE et al., "Packaged Balloon and Greeting Card", Assignee: CTI INDUSTRIES CORP., BARRINGTON, ILL, Appl. No. 59,054, filed 06 May 1993. *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU1995895A (en) 1995-10-03

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