Electric light balloon

• US 4,542,445 A
• Filed: 01/03/1984
• Issued: 09/17/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Louis J. Castaldo
• Original Assignee: Louis J. Castaldo
• Inventors: Marletta, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Bentley, Stephen C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Maples, John S.
• Application Number:
  US06/567,934
• Time in Patent Office: 623 Days
• Field of Search: 362/320, 362/96, 362/253, 362/363, 362/102, 362/295, 362/206, 46/88, 200/1 B, 200/85 R, 200/155 R, 446/485, 446/224, 446/220, 446/484
• US Class Current: 362/96
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 2027/1041 Holding or sealing means, e.g. handling rods, clamps or plugs
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 2027/1058 associated with light or sound
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 2/00 Systems of electric lighting devices systems employing both electric and non-electric light sources or exchangeable light sources F21L27/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/023 Chinese lanterns; Balloons
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/04 characterised by materials, surface treatments or coatings
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/002 Distress signalling devices, e.g. rescue balloons vehicle optical signalling for indicating emergencies B60Q1/52

Abstract

An electric light balloon containing a balloon, a housing for insertion into the balloon, access for inflation, illumination device, power supply, and a way for activating the system wherein the housing contains an orifice at its top end directly in line with the longitudinal axis of the balloon to allow direct light to enter the balloon from the bulb.

Claims

1. An electric light balloon, comprising a balloon, an elongated first housing containing a side and a top end adapted for insertion into said balloon;

said first housing containing a first orifice at said top end in line with a longitudinal axis of said first housing, said first housing containing a second orifice at said side of said housing;

a tubular hollow member having two ends, one end being rigidly attached to said first housing;

a bulb mounted rigidly to said first housing and extending along said longitudinal axis wherein the light from said bulb passes through said first orifice so that said balloon can be illuminated;

a valve inserted through said second orifice on said side of said first housing for inflating said balloon, said valve directing the incoming air upwardly along said longitudinal axis, said incoming air entering from a direction perpendicular to said longitudinal axis and then passing along said bulb and exiting into the balloon from said first orifice, whereby said bulb is in direct contact with said air which keeps said balloon inflated whereby heat transferred to said air will cause further increase in the size of said balloon due to the expansion of said air when said bulb is lit, and decrease the size of said balloon when said bulb is not lit, battery means for energizing said bulb, and a switch means for illuminating said bulb from said battery, further comprising a second housing mounted on the other end of said tubular member opposite the end where said first housing is mounted, wherein said switch means is mounted on said second housing, wherein said switch means comprises a rod containing a contact point pivotally mounted on said second housing;

said rod containing a spring biasing means;

so that an open and closed position can be effected to illuminate said bulb of said balloon, wherein said switch means further comprises a plate containing a set of contact points, wherein said plate is mounted to said second housing in a plane which is coplaner to that of the direction of travel of said rod, so that as said rod traverses the contact points of said plate, said bulb will intermittently blink.