US20140038490A1

US20140038490A1 - Decorative balloon display device

Info

Publication number: US20140038490A1
Application number: US13/566,561
Authority: US
Inventors: John Mack Smith
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-08-03
Filing date: 2012-08-03
Publication date: 2014-02-06

Abstract

A decorative balloon display device includes a first large outer elastic envelope and a second small inner elastic envelope. A mechanism is for centrally retaining the second small inner elastic envelope within the first large outer elastic envelope. Another mechanism is for filling the first large outer elastic envelope and the second small inner elastic envelope with a lifting gas.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention:
The present invention relates to decorative balloons, and more particularly, a decorative balloon display device. When looking for a way to express one's love to another individual, to mark a special occasion or to simply to brighten one's day an individual may be unhappy with simply giving a traditional balloon. Having a balloon that showcases a heart and a star may assist individuals in showing their affection for another person in a novel way.
The decorative balloon display device is filled with helium (or hydrogen) to float in the atmosphere and used to celebrate a holiday or special event. The present invention is ideal for any occasion instead of sending a greeting card, flowers or candy that may be boring and overdone. This innovative device may be especially relevant during Valentine's Day to show one's love with a novel item shaped differently from other balloons by combining a heart shaped balloon with a star shaped balloon.
2. Description of the Prior Art:
Numerous innovations for balloons have been provided in the prior art that will be described. Even though these innovations may be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address, however, they differ from the present invention.
A FIRST EXAMPLE, U.S. Patent Office Publication No. 2003/0236049, Published on Dec. 25, 2003, to Banks teaches a balloon device that includes a plurality of aesthetically discrete balloon members, wherein at least a first one of the aesthetically discrete inflatable members defines a first aesthetic moiety, at least a second balloon member defines a second aesthetic moiety; and a connecting member that connects the balloon members having an appearance that maintains an aesthetic separation between the first and second aesthetic moieties. The connecting member may be transparent, translucent, or have a color that matches the color of a background where the balloon device is intended to be displayed.
A SECOND EXAMPLE, U.S. Patent Office Publication No. 2007/0037472, Published on Feb. 15, 2007, to Greenwald et al. teaches a non-latex balloon that has at least two outer balloon layers of a polymer such as nylon, with an inner layer of heat-sealable material. A self-sealing valve is heat-sealed to the inner surface of one of the outer layers. An inner balloon layer is placed adjacent the outer balloon layers and heat-sealed to one of them to form an enclosed pocket. Two inner balloon layers may be used to form two pockets. The seal of the pockets may be releasable by the user to put a sundry item into the pocket or the sundry item may be manufactured into the pocket. A method of manufacture of a balloon product includes the steps of: placing a valve between two outer sheets of heat-sealable material; placing an inner sheet of material between the two outer sheets; and heat-sealing the valve to the outer sheets and heat-sealing the inner sheet to an outer sheet to form a sealed balloon with a pocket between the inner sheet and the outer sheet. Two pockets may be produced by using a second inner sheet.
A THIRD EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 7,491,109, Issued on Feb. 17, 2009, to Rouse teaches a structural, informative and/or decorative balloon display comprised of a plurality of connected, inflatable chambers formed by a plurality of die applications to a plurality of layers of film. The largest die application produces a set of seals that encompasses an area smaller than the area encompassed by all such sets of seals. In one preferred embodiment connected chambers have and maintain fluid communication. In another preferred embodiment, connected, inflatable chambers have no fluid communication but have a beginning and an end. In other preferred embodiments fluid communication is terminated after inflation. Other embodiments take advantage of variations of numbers of layers, configurations of layers, and treatment of surfaces to create special balloon forms.
A FOURTH EXAMPLE, U.S. Patent Office Publication No. 2009/0197502, Published on Aug. 6, 2009, to Nelson et al. teaches a balloon display that simulates motions of a lighter-than-air balloon which includes a balloon holder and an inflated balloon. The balloon holder includes a neck fastening assembly, and the inflated balloon is secured to the balloon holder by the neck fastening assembly. A compression spring balloon support extends upwardly relative to the neck fastening assembly to support a majority of the inflated balloon above the neck fastening assembly. The inflated balloon is secured to the neck fastening assembly and supported by the compression spring balloon support such that the balloon slightly loads the compression spring balloon support and the balloon tends to move up and down, side to side, and front to back as the compression spring balloon support reacts to the load of the balloon.
A FIFTH EXAMPLE, U.S. Patent Office Publication No. 2011/0171875, Published on Jul. 14, 2011, to Shams teaches an inflatable balloon which comprises a plurality of distinctly shaped inflatable chambers, one or more fluid passageways allowing fluid to flow through the passageways between adjacent chambers and at least one inlet for filling the balloon with fluid, wherein the chambers are integrally formed and at least one chamber is shaped, when inflated, in a form selected from the group comprising: letters and numbers.
It is apparent now that numerous innovations for balloons have been provided in the prior art that are adequate for various purposes. Furthermore, even though these innovations may be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address, accordingly, they would not be suitable for the purposes of the present invention as heretofore described.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

AN OBJECT of the present invention is to provide a decorative balloon display device that avoids the disadvantages of the prior art. ANOTHER OBJECT of the present invention is to provide a decorative balloon display device that is simple and inexpensive to manufacture.
STILL ANOTHER OBJECT of the present invention is to provide a decorative balloon display device that is simple to use.
BRIEFLY STATED, STILL YET ANOTHER OBJECT of the present invention is to provide a decorative balloon display device which comprises a first large outer elastic envelope and a second small inner elastic envelope. A mechanism is for centrally retaining the second small inner elastic envelope within the first large outer elastic envelope. Another mechanism is for filling the first large outer elastic envelope and the second small inner elastic envelope with a lifting gas.
The novel features which are considered characteristic of the present invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of the specific embodiments when read and understood in connection with the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The figures of the drawings are briefly described as follows:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic cross sectional view of the present invention; and

FIGS. 2 through 5 are diagrammatic elevational views of the present invention having possible decorative variations thereon.

REFERENCE NUMERALS UTILIZED IN THE DRAWING

110 decorative balloon display device
112 first large outer elastic envelope
114 second small inner elastic envelope
116 centrally retaining mechanism
118 lifting gas filling mechanism
120 lifting gas
122 three dimensional star shaped balloon
124 three dimensional heart shaped balloon
126 interior heart shaped flexible covering
128 exterior star shaped flexible coverings
130 adhesive seal
132 valve stem
134 inner end of valve stem 132
136 vent in inner end 134
138 helium (or hydrogen) for lifting gas 120

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1, shown is a diagrammatic cross sectional view of the present invention. The present invention is a decorative balloon display device 110 which comprises a first large outer elastic envelope 112 and a second small inner elastic envelope 114. A mechanism 116 is for centrally retaining the second small inner elastic envelope 114 within the first large outer elastic envelope 112. Another mechanism 118 is for filling the first large outer elastic envelope 112 and the second small inner elastic envelope 114 with a lifting gas 120.
The first large outer elastic envelope 112 is comprised of a three dimensional star shaped balloon 122. The second small inner elastic envelope 114 is comprised of a three dimensional heart shaped balloon 124. The star shaped balloon 122 comprises an interior heart shaped flexible covering 126 and an exterior star shaped flexible covering 128.
The centrally retaining mechanism 116 comprises a plurality of spaced apart adhesive seals 130 located between the heart shaped balloon 124 and the interior heart shaped flexible covering 126 of the star shaped balloon 122. The lifting gas filling mechanism 118 comprises a valve stem 132 affixed at an inner end 134 to both the star shaped balloon 122 and the heart shaped balloon 124. The valve stem 132 has a plurality of vents 136 located in the inner end 134 to allow the lifting gas 120 to fill the star shaped balloon 122 and the heart shaped balloon 124 simultaneously. The lifting gas 120 is helium 138 (or hydrogen).
The decorative balloon display device 110 is filled with the helium 138 (or hydrogen) and is shaped like a three dimensional star with a three-dimensional heart in the center. The present invention may be produced from transparent foil or another similar material. The valve stem 132 is located at the bottom of the device 110, so that it may be filled with the helium 138 (or hydrogen). The valve stem 132 may be approximately four inches long and one and a half inches wide. The vent 136 for the heart shaped balloon 124 may measure approximately one half inch long and wide to allow the helium 132 to flow therein. The length of each leg of the star shaped balloon 122 may be approximately ten inches long. The heart shaped balloon 124 may measure approximately twelve inches (12) in diameter while the star shaped balloon 124 may be twenty four inches (24). The thickness of both is about four (04) inches. The heart shaped balloon 124 may attach to the interior heart shaped flexible cover 126 of the star shaped balloon 122 by the four (04) adhesive seals 130 or another similar method, such as the heart shaped balloon 124 being built-in as part of the star shaped balloon 122.
Referring to FIGS. 2 through 5, shown are diagrammatic elevational views of the present invention having possible decorative variations thereon. The color, pattern and design found on the heart shaped balloon 124 and star shaped balloon 122 may vary to accommodate user preferences. The device 110 may be produced in various sizes. The exact dimensions, materials used for construction and method of operation of the present invention may vary upon manufacturing.
It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above.
While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodiments of a decorative balloon display device, accordingly it is not limited to the details shown, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.
Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.

Claims

The invention claimed is:

1. A decorative balloon display device which comprises:

a) a first large outer elastic envelope in a star shaped balloon;

b) a second small inner elastic envelope located within the outer elastic envelope;

c) means for centrally retaining the second small inner elastic envelope within the first large outer elastic envelope; and

d) means for filling the first large outer elastic envelope and the second small inner elastic envelope with a lifting gas.

2. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the first large outer elastic envelope is comprised of a three dimensional star shaped balloon.

3. The device as recited in claim 2, wherein the second small inner elastic envelope is comprised of a three dimensional heart shaped balloon.

4. The device as recited in claim 3, wherein the star shaped balloon comprises:

a) an interior heart shaped flexible covering; and

b) an exterior star shaped flexible covering.

5. The device as recited in claim 4, wherein the centrally retaining means comprises four (04) spaced apart adhesive seals located between the heart shaped balloon and the interior heart shaped flexible covering of the star shaped balloon.

6. The device as recited in claim 5, wherein the lifting gas filling means comprises a valve stem affixed at an inner end to both the star shaped balloon and the heart shaped balloon, the valve stem having a plurality of vents located in the inner end to allow the lifting gas to fill the star shaped balloon and the heart shaped balloon simultaneously.

7. The device as recited in claim 6, wherein the lifting gas is helium.

8. The device as recited in claim 6, wherein the lifting gas is hydrogen.

9. The device as recited in claim 2, wherein the star shaped balloon is made of foil.

10. The device as recited in claim 3, wherein the heart shaped balloon is made of foil.

11. The device as recited in claim 3, wherein the heart shaped balloon is measured approximately twelve (12) inches in diameter and 4 inches in thickness while the star shaped balloon is about twenty four (24) inches in diameter and 4 inches.