Balloon thruster

• US 5,381,779 A
• Filed: 09/16/1993
• Issued: 01/17/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Allen E. Shelton
• Original Assignee: Allen E. Shelton
• Inventors: Shelton, Allen E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Barefoot, Galen L.
• Application Number:
  US08/123,631
• Time in Patent Office: 488 Days
• Field of Search: 244/31, 244/63, 124/56, 124/71, 124/77, 124/73, 406/191, 222/637, 222/5, 446/475, 446/176, 446/178
• US Class Current: 124/77
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 47/002 Devices for dispensing balls, e.g. from a reservoir automatic teeing devices A63B57/0006; devices for projecting balls A63B69/40
• 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: A63H 37/00 Jokes; Confetti, streamers, or other dance favours ; Cracker bonbons or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63J 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass

Abstract

A balloon distribution system that utilizes balloons retained within an elongated, tubular storage area. Upon receipt of a signal from a remotely located controller, the previously-placed inflated balloons are propelled from the storage container, and float down upon the people gathered below. The tubular body is mounted above the crowd in a manner such that the open end of the tube is slightly elevated in comparison with the adjacent section of the tubular body, preventing the stored balloons from spilling from the tube. A thruster housing is attached to the closed end of the tubular body, and the housing terminates in discharge face having a plurality of outlet nozzles extending into the cavity within the tubular body. A motor and fan supply the airflow, which flows through the thruster housing and into the tubular body through the plurality of nozzles. The motor is actuated via a signal received from a remotely mounted controller.

Claims

1. A balloon distribution system for mounting to a location above an area over which balloons are to be selectively distributed, comprising:

an elongate container having a balloon discharge end and a closed proximal end, together forming a cavity suitable for receiving and retaining a plurality of inflated balloons; and

a source of forced air; and

a plurality of spaced apart nozzles each having a first end in communication with said forced air source and a second end substantially aligned with said elongate container at said proximal end thereof;

whereby said forced air, when in communication with said container through said plurality of nozzles, passes through said cavity and transports any balloons retained therein out through said balloon discharge end.

2. The balloon distribution system of claim 1, and further comprising:

a thruster housing at the closed end of the container containing said plurality of nozzles for distributing the forced air into the cavity.

3. The balloon distribution system of claim 1, wherein the container is an elongated tube and comprises:

an outer thin flexible skin; and

an inner radially stiff support member extending the length of the elongated container.

4. The balloon distribution system of claim 3, wherein the inner radially stiff support member comprises a coil defining the cylindrical cavity within.

5. The balloon distribution of claim 4, wherein the coil is constructed of wire and has adjacent loops spaced apart to form gaps.

6. The balloon distribution system of claim 2, wherein the thruster housing comprises:

a hollow rigid member having a central inlet on a proximal face and said plurality of nozzles on a distal face opening into the cavity of the container.

7. The balloon distribution system of claim 6, wherein the outlet nozzles further comprise short stems extending into the cavity from the distal face of the thruster housing.

8. The balloon distribution system of claim 7, wherein the outlet nozzles are distributed in a generally ring pattern spaced radially inward from the outer periphery of the thruster housing.

9. The balloon distribution system of claim 1, wherein the source of forced air is a fan driven by a motor.

10. The balloon distribution system of claim 9, wherein the motor is actuated by a switch which is at a remote location, the switch and motor including means for communicating via radio waves.

11. The balloon distribution system of claim 9, wherein the motor is actuated by a switch connected physically by a wire to the motor.

12. The balloon distribution system of claim 1, wherein the source of forced air is a bottle of pressurized gas.

13. A method for distributing a plurality of balloons over an area, the method comprising the steps of:

retaining a plurality of balloons within a container having an open end by orienting the container so that the open end is at the highest point; and

propelling the balloons from within the interior of the container by directing at least one airstream towards said open end of said container.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of propelling the balloons further comprises:

forcing air into the container from an end opposite said open end.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of forcing air further comprises:

actuating a motor to turn a fan that is mounted to said end opposite the open end of the container by actuating a switch that is at a remote location from the motor.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of forcing air further comprises:

forcing air out of a plurality of nozzles within the container at said end opposite said open end in order to facilitate the agitation of the balloons as they are propelled out of the container.

17. An inflated balloon delivery system comprising:

an elongate chamber having an air inlet and an air exhaust opening;

a plurality of inflated balloons located in said chamber;

a source of forced air in fluid communication with the inlet opening of said chamber, said forced air directed along the length of said chamber from said inlet towards said exhaust opening; and

a controller in communication with and selectively regulating the flow of said forced air into said chamber.