Balloon inflation and illumination device

• US 5,879,219 A
• Filed: 01/17/1997
• Issued: 03/09/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Daniel Penjuke
• Original Assignee: Daniel Penjuke
• Inventors: Penjuke, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Hafer, Robert A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fossum, Laura
• Application Number:
  US08/785,176
• Time in Patent Office: 781 Days
• Field of Search: 446/220, 446/222, 446/224, 446/485, 137/853, 362/253, 362/96, 362/101
• US Class Current: 446/222
• 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 2027/1083 Valves or nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 2027/1091 with object inserted within; Means or methods for insertion of objects
• 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: Y10T 137/7889 Sleeve

Abstract

An improved device for inflating and illuminating a balloon. The device includes a hollow tube having an air baffle structure integrally molded in its interior. The air baffle structure directs air flowing through the tube out through side openings and into a surrounding balloon. A small aperture also extends through the air baffle structure itself. The aperture is sized so that a double lead wire can pass though the aperture from one side of the air baffle structure to the other. The double lead wire extends past the air baffle structure and is directly coupled to an illumination source at the top end of the tube. A sealant is used to seal the aperture through which the double lead wire passes. As such, an air impervious air baffle structure is provided that allows for the direct electrical connection in between a light source on one side of the air baffle structure and a power supply on the opposite side of the air baffle structure.

Claims

1. An illumination device for a balloon, comprising:

an illumination source;

a tube having a first end and an opposite second end and at least one side hole disposed in said tube between said first end and said second end, wherein said first end of said tube is adapted to receive and retain said illumination source in a fixed orientation;

a baffle structure having at least one sloped surface that is disposed within said tube proximate said at least one side hole, wherein said at least one sloped surface directs gas flowing in said tube from said second end through said at least one side hole, said baffle structure further including an aperture disposed there through;

a wire extending through said hollow tube and past said baffle structure through said aperture, wherein said wire is electrically coupled to said illumination source;

an elastic element disposed around said tube covering said at least one side hole, wherein said elastic element enables the outward flow of gas from inside said tube through said at least one side hole and prevents the inward flow of gas from outside said tube through said at least one side hole; and

wherein said baffle structure and said tube are integrally molded from the same material as a single unit.

2. The device according to claim 1, further including an air impervious seal disposed between said aperture and said, wire wherein said air impervious seal obstructs the flow of air through said aperture.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein said wire is knotted above said aperture in said baffle structure forming a knot that is larger than said aperture.

4. The device according to claim 1, further including adhesive disposed between said tube and said illumination source, whereby said adhesive retains said illumination source in said fixed position.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein said illumination source is selected from a group consisting of incandescent bulbs and light emitting diodes.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein said illumination source is an incandescent bulb having a bulb and two leads that extend from said bulb, wherein said two leads pass into said tube and said wire is directly coupled to said leads within said tube.

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein said wire is soldered to said leads of said incandescent bulb within said tube.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein said illumination source has a bottom edge and a ridge is disposed in said tube proximate said top end, wherein said bottom edge of said illumination source rests against said ridge when said illumination source is at said fixed orientation.

9. The device according to claim 1, further including a flange radially extending from said tube proximate said bottom end of said tube.