Apparatus and method for inserting objects into balloons
DCFirst Claim
1. Apparatus for inserting an object into a balloon, comprising:
- a balloon chamber having a size sufficient to accommodate an inflated balloon, said chamber having an opening through which an inflated balloon may pass;
a lid disposable over said chamber opening for forming a substantially air-tight seal with the balloon chamber, said lid having means to access the balloon orifice;
a positive pressure air source for inflating the balloon in said chamber, said air source being in communication with said balloon orifice access means;
said lid further has means to expand and maintain balloon orifice in an expanded state and in contact with a sealing surface including;
a plurality of gripping elements disposed to move between a first position in which said elements are bunched together generally near the center of said balloon orifice access means for receiving a balloon orifice, and a second position in which said elements are spaced apart to expand said balloon orifice into contact with said sealing surface, and means for selectively causing said gripping elements to move between said first and second positions;
whereinsaid balloon orifice access means comprises a tunnel structure in sealing relation on a first end to said lid and having a removable cap to seal a second end, thereby maintaining positive pressure inside said balloon access means while inflating said balloon.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A device to inflate a balloon and maintain it in an inflated state while providing access to the expanded balloon orifice for purpose of inserting objects. The device has a transparent, cylindrical, balloon chamber covered by a vertically movable lid having a balloon orifice expanding mechanism consisting of multiple, cam actuated, retracting fingers. Lid support columns also function as air supply ducts and have stops to hold the lid at convenient elevations for insertion of deflated balloons and removal of inflated balloons containing objects. A preferred embodiment applies positive pressure to inflate the balloon, although vacuum applied exterior to the balloon is also workable.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. Apparatus for inserting an object into a balloon, comprising:
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a balloon chamber having a size sufficient to accommodate an inflated balloon, said chamber having an opening through which an inflated balloon may pass; a lid disposable over said chamber opening for forming a substantially air-tight seal with the balloon chamber, said lid having means to access the balloon orifice; a positive pressure air source for inflating the balloon in said chamber, said air source being in communication with said balloon orifice access means; said lid further has means to expand and maintain balloon orifice in an expanded state and in contact with a sealing surface including; a plurality of gripping elements disposed to move between a first position in which said elements are bunched together generally near the center of said balloon orifice access means for receiving a balloon orifice, and a second position in which said elements are spaced apart to expand said balloon orifice into contact with said sealing surface, and means for selectively causing said gripping elements to move between said first and second positions;
whereinsaid balloon orifice access means comprises a tunnel structure in sealing relation on a first end to said lid and having a removable cap to seal a second end, thereby maintaining positive pressure inside said balloon access means while inflating said balloon. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. Apparatus for inserting an object into a balloon, comprising:
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a balloon chamber having a size sufficient to accommodate an inflated balloon, said balloon chamber comprising a substantially transparent structure providing substantially unobstructed visibility to observe an inflating balloon and having an opening through which an inflated balloon may pass; a lid disposable over said chamber of opening for forming a substantially air-tight seal with the balloon chamber, said lid having means to access a balloon orifice; means to raise said lid in a substantially vertical direction to a balloon tie-off position where the balloon is suspended in a substantially vertical orientation from a balloon orifice expansion mechanism and the balloon neck is substantially free of bending; means to support said lid in said tie-off position; and means to inflate a balloon inside said balloon chamber. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for inserting an object into a balloon comprising the steps of:
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raising a lid of a balloon inflating apparatus substantially vertically to a balloon installation position, wherein said lid carries balloon orifice access structure comprising a substantially air-tight balloon orifice access tunnel having a removable cap, and including a balloon orifice expansion mechanism; installing a deflated balloon having an orifice onto said orifice expansion mechanism; lowering said lid to form a seal with an opening of a balloon inflation chamber; inflating the balloon sufficiently to receive the object; keeping said lid in sealed relation to said chamber while removing said cap from said orifice access tunnel; inserting the object through said orifice access tunnel into the balloon; replacing said cap; breaking said seal between said lid and said chamber; raising said lid to a balloon removal position wherein the balloon is suspended substantially vertically from said orifice expansion mechanism; and tieing-off the balloon.
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Specification