Scented balloon & valve

• US 4,828,176 A
• Filed: 08/04/1988
• Issued: 05/09/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Scents of Heaven Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Scents of Heaven Incorporated
• Inventors: Crowe, Jonathan M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kashnikow, Andres
• Assistant Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US07/229,764
• Time in Patent Office: 278 Days
• Field of Search: 239/34, 239/60, 239/289, 220/23, 206/0.5, 446/220-226, 446/156, 252/522 R, 63/DIG. 2, 428/9, 428/12, 428/905
• US Class Current: 239/60
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2250/021 with odourized parts
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 2027/1083 Valves or nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 27/10 Balloons connection of valves to inflatable elastic bodies B60C29/00; other than toy aspects B64B1/40

Abstract

A valve assembly for use with an inflatable article wherein the valve assembly tends toward greater sealing when the inflatable article is subject to increased pressure and wherein the sealing portion of such assembly is adapted to secure a tablet therein.

Claims

1. A scented balloon comprising:

(a) a preformed, inflatable balloon, said preformed balloon containing a gas therein and said preformed balloon having a balloon body, a balloon mouth and a balloon neck between said balloon body and said balloon mouth,

(b) a non-gaseous fragrance-emitting medium,

(c) means for sealing said balloon mouth once said preformed balloon has inflated,

(d) means for securing said fragrance-emitting medium to said balloon mouth so as to be in communication with the interior of said balloon body when said balloon mouth has been sealed,

(e) said fragrance-emitting medium emitting a fragrance within the interior of said balloon body,

(f) said balloon body consisting essentially of a balloon membrane capable of having said fragrance diffuse therethrough, and

(g) said fragrance diffusing through said balloon membrane from the interior of said balloon body to the exterior of said balloon body, thereby scenting said balloon body.

2. The scented balloon according to claim 1, wherein said fragrance-emitting medium is a fragrance tablet.

3. The scented balloon according to claim 2, wherein said securing means comprises receptacle means adapted to receive said fragrance tablet in snug engagement therewith with at least one of the surfaces of said tablet being exposed to and thereby in communication with the interior of said balloon body.

4. The scented balloon according to claim 3, wherein said receptacle means comprises a receptacle of substantially similar shape and substantially identical size as said fragrance tablet.

5. The scented balloon according to claim 4, wherein said receptacle further comprises at least one resilient rib on the interior circumference of said receptacle.

6. The scented balloon according to claim 5, wherein said receptacle comprises a plurality of said resilient ribs spaced apart around the interior circumference of said receptacle, thereby exposing additional surface area of said fragrance tablet so as to be in communication with the interior of said balloon body.

7. The scented balloon according to claim 6, wherein said receptacle further comprises at least one platform on the interior end portion of said receptacle.

8. The scented balloon according to claim 7, wherein said receptacle comprises a plurality of said platforms spread apart on the interior end portion of said receptacle, whereby substantially all exterior surfaces of said fragrance tablet are exposed to and thereby in communication with the interior of said balloon body.

9. The scented balloon according to claim 1, wherein said sealing means comprises a balloon valve assembly comprising

a neck fitting and

a collar portion,

said collar portion having an annulus therethrough for receiving said balloon mouth and positioned so as to surround said balloon neck, and

said neck fitting being inserted into said balloon mouth and engaging the interior surface of said balloon neck and promoting the sealing engagement of the exterior surface of said balloon neck with the interior annular surface of said collar portion, and promoting sealing engagement of the interior surface of said balloon neck with said neck fitting, thereby sealing said preformed balloon once said neck fitting is inserted.

10. The scented balloon according to claim 9, wherein said sealing means further comprises means for connecting said neck fitting and said collar portion.

11. The scented balloon according to claim 10, wherein said connecting means comprises means for engaging and restraining said balloon mouth.

12. The scented balloon according to claim 9, wherein said sealing means comprises said securing means.

13. A balloon valve assembly comprising:

(a) means for scenting balloon bodies,

(b) said scenting means comprising means for securing a fragrance tablet therein,

(c) said securing means comprising receptacle means adapted to receive said fragrance tablet in snug engagement therewith,

(d) said receptacle means comprising

(1) one or more resilient ribs spaced apart around the interior circumference of said receptacle means and

(2) one or more platforms spaced apart on the interior end portion of said receptacle means.