Illuminated fiber decorated balloons

• US 6,371,638 B1
• Filed: 08/09/2000
• Issued: 04/16/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Eric Koenig, Robert Zingale
• Original Assignee: Eric Koenig, Robert Zingale
• Inventors: Koenig, Eric, Zingale, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Cariaso, Alan
• Application Number:
  US09/635,169
• Time in Patent Office: 615 Days
• Field of Search: 362/84, 362/96, 362/186, 362/234, 362/253, 362/238, 362/239, 362/250, 362/252, 362/276, 362/86, 362/363, 362/383, 362/551, 362/565, 362/559, 446/219, 446/220, 446/484, 446/485
• US Class Current: 362/565
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 2027/1008 Anchoring means or weights
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 2027/1058 associated with light or sound
• 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: Y10S 362/806 Ornamental or decorative

Abstract

An inflatable translucent balloon body has a predetermined net lifting force upon inflation with a lighter than air gas. A light source is attached to the balloon upon inflation by a light transmitting tether. To keep the buoyant balloon afloat while attached to the light transmitting tether, the light transmitting tether has a net weight of less than the net lifting force of the balloon in an inflated state with lighter than air gas therein.

Claims

1. An illuminated balloon assembly comprising:

an inflatable translucent balloon body having a predetermined net lifting force upon inflation with a lighter than air gas;

said inflatable translucent balloon having an open neck,

a light transmitting source having a light emitting end located within said inflatable translucent balloon upon inflation of said inflatable translucent balloon;

said light transmitting source having a net weight of less than said net lifting force of said inflatable translucent balloon in an inflated state when inflated with said lighter than air gas;

said light transmitting source insertable within said neck of said inflatable translucent balloon in a sealed relationship therewith;

said at least one light transmitting source projecting light outwards through said inflatable translucent balloon in said inflated state.

2. The illuminated balloon assembly as in claim 1, wherein said at least one light transmitting source comprises a plurality of light transmitting fibers.

3. The illuminated balloon assembly as in claim 1, wherein said balloon is elastic.

4. The illuminated balloon assembly as in claim 1, wherein said balloon is inelastic.

5. The illuminated balloon assembly as in claim 1, wherein said at least one light transmitting source is a fiber optic fiber.

6. The illuminated balloon assembly as in claim 5 wherein said at least one light transmitting end of said fiber optic fiber is a predetermined geometric shape.

7. The illuminated balloon assembly as in claim 6, wherein said predetermined geometric shape is a flat facet.

8. The illuminated balloon assembly as in claim 6, wherein said predetermined geometric shape is a truncated facet.

9. The illuminated balloon assembly as in claim 6, wherein said predetermined geometric shape is a cube.

10. The illuminated balloon assembly as in claim 6, wherein said predetermined geometric shape is a rounded dome.

11. The illuminated balloon assembly as in claim 1, wherein said light transmitting source is a light source module powered by an electrical power source and is freely suspended from an interior wall of said balloon by a tether.

12. The illuminated balloon assembly as in claim 11, wherein said light transmitting source is an incandescent lamp.

13. The illuminated balloon assembly as in claim 11, wherein said light transmitting source is a light emitting diode.

14. The illuminated balloon assembly as in claim 11, wherein said light transmitting source is a laser light.

15. The illuminated balloon assembly as in claim 11, wherein said light transmitting source is a flashing xenon lamp.

16. The illuminated balloon assembly as in claim 11, wherein said electrical power source is an internal DC power battery.

17. The illuminated balloon assembly as in claim 11, wherein said electrical power source is an AC power connection to an AC utility power.

18. The illuminated balloon assembly as in claim 1 further comprising an inflator means, said inflator means including a nozzle connected to a helium gas tank, said nozzle having an orifice end, said inflatable translucent balloon stretchable over said nozzle in a sealable relationship,

said inflator means further comprising

a soft tubing segment, into which said tubing segment said light transmitting fiber is insertable for insertion thereafter into said inflatable translucent balloon, said soft tubing element forming a seal around said light transmitting fiber when said balloon is inflated with gas from said nozzle.

19. The illuminated balloon assembly as in claim 1, wherein said light source and said light transmitting tether are suspended from an interior wall of said inflatable, translucent balloon.

20. The illuminated balloon assembly as in claim 19, wherein said light source comprises a light module having at least one light emitting diode and a battery power source.

21. The illuminated balloon assembly as in claim 20, wherein said at least one light emitting diode comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes.

22. An illuminated balloon assembly comprising:

an inflatable translucent balloon body having a predetermined net lifting force upon inflation with a lighter than air gas;

said inflatable translucent balloon having an open neck;

a light transmitting source having a light emitting end located within said inflatable translucent balloon upon inflation of said inflatable translucent balloon;

said light transmitting source having a net weight of less than said net lifting force of said inflatable translucent balloon in an inflated state when inflated with said lighter than air gas;

said light transmitting source insertable within said neck of said inflatable translucent balloon in a sealed relationship therewith;

said at least one light transmitting source projecting light outwards through said inflatable translucent balloon in said inflated state;

wherein said light transmitting source comprises at least one variably flashable light bulb, said light transmitting source communicating with an illumination modulator means, said modulator means including a microphone communicating with an amplifier, said microphone transmitting ambient sounds to said amplifier, said amplifier amplifying said ambient sounds to at least one filter, said filter passing predetermined frequencies of said amplified ambient sounds to at least one power amplifier, said power amplifier providing an electrical power to light said at least one variably flashable light bulb.

23. The illuminated balloon assembly as in claim 22, wherein said at least one power amplifier comprises a plurality of amplifiers powering a plurality of variably flashable light bulbs, each said light bulb having a predetermined color, wherein flashing of each said light bulb responds to amplified frequencies of said ambient sounds.

24. The illuminated balloon assembly as in claim 22, further comprising:

an auxiliary audio input, said auxiliary audio input selectively wired by a switch to said power amplifier to add artificial sound to said amplified ambient sound.

25. The illuminated balloon assembly as in claim 22, wherein said at least one filter is a low pass audio filter.

26. The illuminated balloon assembly as in claim 22, wherein said at least one filter is a mid-range band pass filter.

27. The illuminated assembly as in claim 22, wherein said at least one filter is a high pass audio filter.

28. An illuminated balloon assembly comprising:

an inflatable translucent balloon body having a predetermined net lifting force upon inflation with a lighter than air gas;

said inflatable translucent balloon having an open neck,

a light transmitting source having a light emitting end located within said inflatable translucent balloon upon inflation of said inflatable translucent balloon;

said light transmitting source having a net weight of less than said net lifting force of said inflatable translucent balloon in an inflated state when inflated with said lighter than air gas;

said light transmitting source insertable within said neck of said inflatable translucent balloon in a sealed relationship therewith;

said at least one light transmitting source projecting light outwards through said inflatable translucent balloon in said inflated state;

wherein said light transmitting source is suspended from an interior wall of said inflatable, translucent balloon

wherein said light transmitting source comprises a light module having at least one light emitting diode and a battery power source

wherein said light module includes a motion sensor, said motion sensor responds to randomly light said at least one light emitting diode upon movement of said light module within said inflatable, translucent balloon.

29. An illuminated. balloon assembly comprising:

an inflatable translucent balloon body having a predetermined net lifting force upon inflation with a lighter than air gas,

said inflatable translucent balloon having an open neck,

a light source attached to an exterior of said inflatable translucent balloon upon inflation of said inflatable translucent balloon by a light transmitting tether;

said light source and said light transmitting tether having a net weight of less than said net lifting force of said inflatable translucent balloon in an inflated state when inflated with said lighter than air gas;

said light transmitting tether having at least one light transmitting fiber;

wherein said light source comprises a net array of light emitting elements and electrically conductive wires therebetween through which said net array said balloon is installed.

30. The illuminated balloon assembly as in claim 29, wherein said net array comprises said electrically conductive wires being arrayed in parallel and being attached by non-conducting fibers, wherein said electrically conductive wires are attached to said conductive light emitting elements.

31. An illuminated balloon assembly comprising:

an inflatable translucent balloon, said balloon having an open neck end, said balloon having at least one light transmitting fiber insertable through an open neck end,

said at least one light translucent fiber transferring light through a translucent skin of said balloon, and

a light source connected optically to said at least one light translucent fiber;

a plurality of inflatable translucent balloons, each said balloon having an open neck end, each said balloon having a plurality of light transmitting fibers insertable through a coupling at said open neck end,

each said plurality of light translucent fibers assembled in a semi-rigid branch, each said semi rigid branch of light transmitting fibers supporting each said inflatable, translucent balloon,

said light source connected optically to said plurality of light translucently fibers, wherein swaying of each said inflatable, translucent balloon moves each light transmitting end of each said light transmitting fiber, thereby cyclically changing light patterns emanating therefrom.

32. The illuminated balloon assembly as in claim 31, wherein said coupling comprises a pair of conduits, one of said conduits for insertion of said at least one light transmitting fiber therethrough, and another of said conduits for introduction of a balloon inflatable gas therethrough.

33. The illuminated balloon as in claim 32, further comprising a movement means, said movement means comprising a motor driving gear box, said gear box having at least one shaft rotating said light source, said gear box having a connection member and an oscillator means for oscillating said illuminated balloon assembly.

34. A method of assembling a decorative illuminated balloon assembly comprising the steps of:

providing an inflatable translucent balloon body having a predetermined net lifting force upon inflation with a lighter than air gas,

opening an open neck of said inflatable translucent balloon,

weighing said light transmitting source to determine that said light transmitting source has a net weight of less than said net lifting force of said inflatable translucent balloon in an inflated state when inflated with said lighter than air gas;

determining that said light transmitting source has a combined weight of no more than {fraction (1/2 )} ounce (14 grams);

inserting said light transmitting source having a light emitting end within said inflatable translucent balloon in a sealed relationship therewith;

powering said at least one light transmitting source to project light outwards through said inflatable translucent balloon in said inflated state; and

,

inflating said balloon to a height of about 12 inches and a diameter of about 10 inches.