WO1995024954A1

WO1995024954A1 - Balloon ballast weight

Info

Publication number: WO1995024954A1
Application number: PCT/US1995/003057
Authority: WO
Inventors: Leslie W. Barton; Freddie Lee Karr
Original assignee: Classic Balloon Corp.
Priority date: 1994-03-14
Filing date: 1995-03-13
Publication date: 1995-09-21
Also published as: AU1995895A

Abstract

A balloon and integral ballast weight comprising a balloon (22) adapted to be inflated with a quantity of lighter-than-air gas, a tether (26) coupled to the balloon, and a container (52) 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 (36) 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 pulling the container substantially off of a surface. The container may also act as a greeting card (68).

Description

BALLOON BALLAST WEIGHT TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to balloons, and more particularly to balloon tethers with ballast weights incorporated therein. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 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. As balloons are frequently used as novelties with children, 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.

Both the airborne interference problem and the resultant ground pollution problem caused by the recent proliferation of balloons have caused many governmental bodies to enact legislation restricting the usage of such balloons. Several states have passed legislation requiring that helium-filled balloons be equipped with an integrally affixed tether line that may not exceed a given length.

There have also been attempts to solve these problems in the prior art by providing weights which may be attached to the bottom of the tether line in order to keep the balloon from floating upward beyond its tethered length if it is released. One such prior art device is illustrated in 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. However, 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).

There is therefore a need in the prior art for a device that will prevent a lighter-than- air balloon from floating away, where such device 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 is directed toward meeting these needs. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a balloon ballast weight that will prevent a lighter-than-air balloon from floating away when not grasped by its tether line. It is another object of the present invention to provide a balloon ballast weight that does not add significantly to the cost of the balloon.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a balloon ballast weight which does not lower the product quality of the balloon by damaging the balloon during shipment.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a balloon ballast weight that does not consume additional natural resources.

Finally, it is an object of the present invention to provide a balloon ballast weight that does not create extra garbage when the balloon is discarded. Other and further objects of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the following description taken in conjunction with the appended claims. In order to meet the forgoing objectives and to overcome the problems inherent in the prior art devices, 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. The remaining portion of the shipping container is already attached to the end of the tether line (which is attached to the balloon) and provides the ballast required to keep the balloon from floating away. In one form of the invention, a balloon and integral ballast weight is disclosed, 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.

In another form of the invention, a balloon and integral ballast weight is disclosed, 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.

In another form of the invention, a balloon and integral ballast weight is disclosed, 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. In another form of the invention, a balloon and integral ballast weight is disclosed, 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. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The novel features believed to be characteristic of the invention are set forth in th appended claims. For a more complete understanding of the present invention, and for further details and advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following Detailed Description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

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; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the third embodiment of the present invention.

It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for purposes of illustration only and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. Such definition is made only by the appended claims. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

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. In the first embodiment of the present invention, 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. Alternatively, 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. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that other materials and sealing methods may be used for shipping container 28. For example, 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.

At the point of purchase, when the customer has selected the desired balloon, 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.

Referring now to 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. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that other similar arrangements may be used, such as attaching the tether line 26 by means of adhesive, staples, or other fastening means. For example, 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.

Referring now to FIG. 6, there is illustrated a third embodiment of the present invention, illustrated generally at 50. As in the first and second embodiments, 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.

Referring now to FIG. 7, at the point of purchase, when the customer has selected the desired balloon, 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. 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.

Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in the foregoing Detailed Description and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed, but is capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications, and substitutions of parts and elements without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, many balloon materials, shipping container materials, tether materials and sealing methods are disclosed herein in relation to the various embodiments of the present invention. Numerous combinations of balloon material, shipping container material, tether material and sealing method may be used to practice the present invention, including various materials and methods which are known in the art to be acceptable substitutes for the materials and methods disclosed. Accordingly, the present invention is intended to encompass such rearrangements, modifications, and substitutions of parts and elements as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. 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 said balloon; and a container coupled to said tether and substantially enclosing said balloon and tether prior to inflation, wherein a combined weight of said tether and container is sufficient to prevent said balloon, when inflated, from pulling said container substantially off of a surface.

2. The balloon and integral ballast weight of Claim 1 wherein said balloon is constructed of metallized plastic.

3. The balloon and integral ballast weight of Claim 1 wherein said tether is a length of serrated ribbon.

4. The balloon and integral ballast weight of Claim 1 wherein said container is constructed of polyethylene.

5. The balloon and integral ballast weight of Claim 1 wherein said container is sealed around its periphery.

6. The balloon and integral ballast weight of Claim 5 wherein said seal is formed by heat sealing.

7. The balloon and integral ballast weight of Claim 5 wherein said container is perforated on at least one side to allow access to an interior thereof.

8. The balloon and integral ballast weight of Claim 1 wherein said container is adapted to be used as a greeting card.

9. The balloon and integral ballast weight of Claim 1 wherein said container is formed substantially in a shape of an object to be represented.

10. The balloon and integral ballast weight of Claim 1 wherein said container is coupled to said tether by heat sealing.

11. , 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 said balloon; and a container coupled to said tether and sealed along a periphery thereof so as to completely enclose said balloon prior to inflation and substantially enclose said tether, said container having a perforation to facilitate removal of one end thereof for removal of said balloon, wherein a combined weight of said tether and container is sufficient to prevent said balloon, when inflated, from pulling said container substantially off of a surface.

12. The balloon and integral ballast weight of Claim 11 wherein said balloon is constructed of metallized plastic.

13. The balloon and integral ballast weight of Claim 11 wherein said tether is a length of serrated ribbon.

14. The balloon and integral ballast weight of Claim 11 wherein said container is constructed of polyethylene.

15. The balloon and integral ballast weight of Claim 11 wherein said seal is formed by heat sealing.

16. The balloon and integral ballast weight of Claim 11 wherein said container is adapted to be used as a greeting card.

17. The balloon and integral ballast weight of Claim 11 wherein said container is formed substantially in a shape of an object to be represented.

18. The balloon and integral ballast weight of Claim 11 wherein said container is coupled to said tether by heat sealing.

19. 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 said balloon; and a container coupled to said tether and sealed along a periphery thereof so as to completely enclose said balloon prior to inflation and substantially enclose said tether, said container being perforated in order to facilitate removal of all ends but one thereof, such that said balloon may be removed therefrom and a remaining portion of said container is adapted for use as a greeting card, wherein a combined weight of said tether and container is sufficient to prevent said balloon, when inflated, from pulling said container substantially off of a surface.

20. The balloon and integral ballast weight of Claim 19 wherein said balloon is constructed of metallized plastic.

21. The balloon and integral ballast weight of Claim 19 wherein said tether is a length of serrated ribbon.

22. The balloon and integral ballast weight of Claim 19 wherein said container is constructed of polyethylene.

23. The balloon and integral ballast weight of Claim 19 wherein said seal is formed by heat sealing.

24. The balloon and integral ballast weight of Claim 19, wherein said container comprises a substantially rectilinear piece of material folded substantially in half and sealed on three edges.

25. The balloon and integral ballast weight of Claim 19, wherein said container is preprinted with a greeting.

26. A balloon and integral ballast weight, comprising: a balloon inflated with a quantity of lighter-than-air gas; a tether coupled to said balloon; and a ballast weight coupled to said tether, said ballast weight comprising a portion of a container used to store said balloon and tether, wherein a combined weight of said tether and ballast weight is sufficient to prevent said balloon, when inflated, from pulling said ballast weight substantially off of a surface.