Illuminated balloon

• US 5,075,830 A
• Filed: 03/18/1991
• Issued: 12/24/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rafael Perez
• Original Assignee: Rafael Perez
• Inventors: Perez, Rafael
• Primary Examiner(s): Lazarus, Ira S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hagarman, Sue
• Application Number:
  US07/674,794
• Time in Patent Office: 281 Days
• Field of Search: 362/101, 362/189, 362/190, 362/191, 362/253, 362/352, 362/806, 362/811, 362/96, 446/219, 446/220, 446/222, 446/484, 446/485, 446/901, 40/559, 40/560, 40/214, 40/594
• US Class Current: 362/352
• 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: A63H 2027/1075 Special shapes or constructions
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 27/10 Balloons connection of valves to inflatable elastic bodies B60C29/00; other than toy aspects B64B1/40
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/023 Chinese lanterns; Balloons
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 21/10 illuminated
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/806 Ornamental or decorative

Abstract

An illuminated balloon having a front face and a rear face sealed together about an outer peripheral edge in surrounding relation to an interior gas chamber, and a neck portion integrally formed therewith to facilitate filling of gas within the interior chamber. An electric lamp is fixedly attached to an outer surface of the balloon so as to direct light through the interior chamber effectively illuminating a design on at least one of the faces of the balloon. A battery pack is electrically interconnected to the electric lamp by a pair of substantially thin gauge wires intertwined to form a cord extending therebetween.

Claims

1. An illuminated display apparatus, comprising:

a balloon having an inflatable body and a neck integrally formed therewith, said inflatable body disposed in air tight, sealed relation about a hollow interior gas chamber,

a translucent design printed on at least a portion of said inflatable body,

an electric lamp fixedly attached to an outer surface of said inflatable body and structured and disposed to direct light into said interior gas chamber and at least partially out through said translucent design, thereby effectively illuminating said translucent design,

said electric lamp being attached to said outer surface of said inflatable body with an opaque tape,

said opaque tape including a highly reflective inner surface adapted to substantially reflect said light emitted from said electric lamp into said interior gas chamber, and

a battery container structured to contain a battery therein and electrically interconnected to said electric lamp by substantially thin gauge conductor wires.

2. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said inflatable body is formed of a non-latex material.

3. An apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said inflatable body includes a front face and rear face sealed together substantially about an outer peripheral edge in surrounding, sealed relation to said hollow interior gas chamber.

4. An apparatus as in claim 3 wherein said electric lamp comprises a 3.5 volt flashing bulb electrically interconnected to and seated within a socket.

5. An apparatus as in claim 4 wherein said front face and said rear face are formed of a transparent material.

6. An apparatus as in claim 4 wherein said translucent design is disposed on both said front face and said rear face.

7. An apparatus as in claim 4 wherein said translucent design is disposed on said front face.

8. An apparatus as in claim 7 wherein said rear face is formed of a substantially transparent non-latex material.

9. An apparatus as in claim 7 wherein said electric lamp is attached to said outer surface of said rear face so as to effectively direct said light through said interior gas chamber and substantially through said translucent design on said front face.

10. An apparatus as in claim 7 wherein said battery pack defines a handle portion to facilitate holding of the display apparatus, said electrical conductor wires defining a connecting cord extending between said battery pack and said balloon.

11. An apparatus as in claim 7 wherein said rear face is formed of a substantially opaque non-latex material.

12. An apparatus as in claim 11 wherein said rear face includes a highly reflective chrome finish on an inner surface and an outer surface thereof.

13. An apparatus as in claim 12 wherein said electric lamp is attached to an outer surface of said front face so as to effectively direct said light through said interior gas chamber and onto said chrome finish on said inner surface of said rear face, wherein said light is reflected off of said inner surface of said rear face and dispersed throughout said interior gas chamber and at least partially out through said translucent design on said front face.

14. An apparatus as in claim 12 wherein said battery pack defines a handle portion to facilitate holding of the display apparatus, said electrical conductor wires defining a connecting cord extending between said battery pack and said balloon.