Balloon novelty device

• US 6,238,259 B1
• Filed: 07/09/1996
• Issued: 05/29/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Vincent Medina
• Original Assignee: Vincent Medina
• Inventors: Medina, Vincent
• Primary Examiner(s): MUIR, DAVID N
• Application Number:
  US08/676,543
• Time in Patent Office: 1,785 Days
• Field of Search: 446/71, 446/75, 446/77, 446/220, 446/488, 446/147, 40/210, 40/212, 40/215, 40/217, 40/124.01, 40/124.08, 40/610, 116/210, 472/68
• US Class Current: 446/71
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 2027/1008 Anchoring means or weights
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 27/10 Balloons connection of valves to inflatable elastic bodies B60C29/00; other than toy aspects B64B1/40

Abstract

A display apparatus has a stationary base, a floating display member secured to the base by a first cord, and a balloon secured to the floating member by a second cord. The balloon is inflated with a gas which is lighter than air, and rises upwardly to suspend the floating member at a location spaced above the base member.

Claims

1. A display apparatus, comprising:

a stationary base member having an outer wall, the outer wall having an opening and at least one elongate slit spaced from the opening;

a unitary display member having spaced first and second apertures and having an edge portion for selective engagement in said slits;

a first cord having a first end secured to the first aperture in the display member and a second end secured to the opening in the base member;

a second cord having a first end secured to the second aperture in the display member and a second end;

at least one inflatable balloon secured to the second end of the second cord; and

whereby said balloon, when inflated with a gas which is lighter than air, rises upwardly and pulls said display member upwardly to a location at which the display member is suspended in air beneath said balloon in a generally upright configuration at a location spaced above said stationary base member whereby one of said slits support said display member in a generally upright configuration when not secured to an inflated balloon.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said base member and display member are both manufactured from cardboard.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base member comprises a hollow, completely empty housing and has a flat lower surface for placing flat on the ground or other planar support surface.

4. A display apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the display member is a generally flat, planar card having an outer periphery cut to form an ornamental shape.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a predetermined number of display members, each display member having spaced first and second apertures a number of spaced first cords equal to the number of display members, each first cord securing the first aperture of a respective display member to the base member, a number of second cords equal to the number of display members, each second cord being secured to the second aperture of a respective display member, and a plurality of balloons comprising at least one balloon for each display member, each second cord being secured to a respective balloon.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the base member is elongated and has an upper side having a plurality of spaced openings along its length, and each first cord is secured in a respective one of said openings.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein each of said display members has a different ornamental shape from the other display members.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the first cords are of different lengths.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein at least some of the second cords are of different lengths.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein a plurality of balloons are secured to said display member, each balloon being secured to said display member via a respective second cord.

11. A display apparatus, comprising:

a stationary base member;

a unitary display member having spaced first and second apertures;

a first cord having a first end secured to the first aperture in the display member and a second end secured to the base member;

a second cord having a first end secured to the second aperture in the display member and a second end;

at least one inflatable balloon secured to the second end of the second cord;

whereby said balloon, when inflated with a gas which is lighter than air, rises upwardly and pulls said display member upwardly to a location at which the display member is suspended in air beneath said balloon in a generally upright configuration at a location spaced above said stationary base member; and

the base member having an opening for connecting the first end of the first cord to the base member, and an elongate slit on each side of the central opening, the display member having at least two edge portions for engagement in said slits to support the display member in an upright orientation when said balloon is not inflated.

12. A display apparatus, comprising:

a stationary base member comprising a hollow housing of generally elongate shape having a flat lower wall for placing flat on the ground and a flat upper wall, the housing having an opening and the upper wall having at least one slit;

a unitary, ornamental display member having spaced first and second apertures;

a cord having a first end secured to the first aperture in the display member and a second end secured to the opening in the base member;

the second aperture comprising means for securing one end of a second cord to the display member with the opposite cord end secured to a balloon inflated with a gas which is lighter than air, whereby the balloon rises upwardly and pulls said display member upwardly to a location at which the display member is suspended in air beneath said balloon in a generally upright configuration at a location spaced above said stationary base member; and

the display member having at least one edge portion for engagement in said slit to support the display member on the base member in a generally upright orientation when not secured to an inflated balloon.

13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the housing is of generally rectangular shape and has an upright rear wall projecting upwardly above the upper wall.