Inflatable object that contains a module that is inaccessible from the outside but which becomes powered in response to inflation of the object

• US 6,482,065 B1
• Filed: 03/09/2000
• Issued: 11/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sing-A-Tune Balloons LLC
• Original Assignee: John A. Blackman
• Inventors: Blackman, John A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ackun, Jacob K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Francis, Faye
• Application Number:
  US09/522,123
• Time in Patent Office: 985 Days
• Field of Search: 446/220-226, 362/806, 362/253, 362/802, 362/96
• US Class Current: 446/220
• 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: A63H 3/06 Air-filled or inflatable toy figures connection of valves to inflatable elastic bodies B60C29/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/04 the elements being switches safety devices F21V25/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/023 Chinese lanterns; Balloons
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/008 Leisure, hobby or sport articles, e.g. toys, games or first-aid kits; Hand tools; Toolboxes
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

An inflatable object including an electronic module with a voice/music chip or an illumination device and at least one battery within confines of the inflatable object, an insulator being configured and arranged in a disabling position to prevent powering of the electronic module by the at least one battery, and an end of the insulator being secured to an inside surface of the inflatable object so that as opposite sides of the inflatable object spread apart in response to inflation of the inflatable object, forces are imposed on the insulating tab to force the insulating end to leave the disabling position to permit powering of the electronic module by the at least one battery.

Claims

1. An apparatus that prevents drainage of power, comprising:

an inflatable object;

an electronic module and at least one battery within confines of the inflatable object;

an insulator being configured and arranged in a disabling position to electrically insulate and prevent powering of the electronic module by the at least one battery, the insulator having an end secured to an inside surface of the inflatable object, the insulator being arranged to leave the disabling position in response to opposite sides of the inflatable object spreading apart from each other due to inflation of the inflatable object; and

electrical contacts making electrical connection in response to the insulator leaving the disabling position to enable powering of the electronic module by the at least one battery.

2. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said electronic module includes a voice/music melody chip, which is configured and arranged to respond to acoustic signals being generated by said electronic module to generate audible sounds.

3. An apparatus as in claim 2, wherein the electronic module comprises a printed circuit board and a voice/music melody chip.

4. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the electronic module includes an illuminating device, which is configured and arranged to respond to illumination signals being generated by said electronic module to generate light.

5. An apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising a spring bias that is situated between electronic module and the at least one battery and arranged to apply pressure that sandwiches the insulator between the electrical contacts so that in response to the insulator leaving the disabling position, the electrical contacts make the electrical connection.

6. An apparatus as in claim 5, wherein the electrical contacts are arranged on the at least one battery and the electronic module.

7. An apparatus as in claim 6, further comprising a conductive surface and a spring, the insulator being between the conductive surface and the spring as the insulator remains in the disabling position, the conductive surface and the spring being the electrical contacts, the spring being arranged to jostle into contact with the conductive surface after the insulator leaves the disabling condition.

8. A method of preventing drainage of at least one battery in an inflatable object including an electronic module, comprising the steps of:

arranging the electronic module and at least one battery within the inflatable object;

positioning an insulator in a position to electrically insulate the electronic module from the at least one battery;

securing an end of the insulator to an inside surface of the inflatable object; and

arranging electrical contacts to make electrical connection between the at least one battery and the electronic module in response to the insulator leaving the disabling position as opposite walls of the inflatable object spread apart.

9. A method as in claim 8, further comprising sandwiching the insulator between the electrical contacts under pressure.

10. A method as in claim 8, further comprising triggering the electronic module while the electronic module is being powered by the at least one battery;

and generating sounds in response to the triggering of the electronic module.

11. A method as in claim 8, further comprising triggering the electronic module while the electronic module is being powered by the at least one battery;

and illuminating lights in response to triggering of the electronic module.

12. A method as in claim 9, wherein the sandwiching arises from a spring bias imposed on the at least one battery against the insulator to sandwich the insulator between the at least one battery and the electronic module, the electrical contacts being on the at least one battery and the electronic module.

13. A method as in claim 8, where in response to the insulator leaving the disabling position, a movement of the electrical contacts results in the electrical connection becoming effected.

14. An apparatus that prevents drainage of power in an inflatable balloon including an electronic module, comprising:

an inflatable balloon;

an electronic module and at least one battery within confines of the inflatable balloon;

an actuatable switch being entirely within the confines of the inflatable balloon, mechanically actuatable and configured and arranged to actuate powering of the electronic module by the at least one battery in response to the inflatable balloon spreading apart during inflation;

an insulator being configured and arranged to insulate the actuatable switch against actuating the powering while the insulator is in a disabling position, the insulator being configured and arranged to move from and clear of the disabling position in response to the opposite sides of the inflatable object spreading apart during inflation of the inflatable object thereby freeing the trigger to effect the actuating of the powering.

15. An apparatus as in claim 14, wherein the trigger includes an electrically conductive contact surface and a spring, the insulator being sandwiched between the spring and the contact surface while in the disabling position, the spring being configured and arranged to move in response to the insulator clearing the disabling position to make electrical contact with the surface, the electronic module being powered by the at least one battery is response to the electrical contact having been made.