Balloon display simulating motions of a lighter-than-air balloon

• US 7,854,642 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2008
• Issued: 12/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Premium Balloon Accessories Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Premium Balloon Accessories Incorporated
• Inventors: Schroeder, Wesley A., Nelson, David C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim; Gene
• Assistant Examiner(s): Niconovich; Alexander R
• Application Number:
  US12/012,185
• Publication Number:
  US 20090197502A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,055 Days
• Field of Search: 446220-228, 446/77, 446/489, 446/315, 446/268, 446/397, 248/309.1, 248/565, D21/439, D21/440
• US Class Current: 446/220
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 2027/1041 Holding or sealing means, e.g. handling rods, clamps or plugs
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 27/10 Balloons connection of valves to inflatable elastic bodies B60C29/00; other than toy aspects B64B1/40

Abstract

A balloon display that simulates motions of a lighter-than-air balloon includes a balloon holder and an inflated balloon. The balloon holder includes a neck fastening assembly, and the inflated balloon is secured to the balloon holder by the neck fastening assembly. A compression spring balloon support extends upwardly relative to the neck fastening assembly to support a majority of the inflated balloon above the neck fastening assembly. The inflated balloon is secured to the neck fastening assembly and supported by the compression spring balloon support such that the balloon slightly loads the compression spring balloon support and the balloon tends to move up and down, side to side, and front to back as the compression spring balloon support reacts to the load of the balloon.

Claims

1. A balloon display that simulates motions of a lighter-than-air balloon comprising:

an inflated balloon; and

a balloon holder including;

a neck fastening assembly, said inflated balloon being secured to said balloon holder by said neck fastening assembly;

a compression spring balloon support having multiple coils that expand in diameter as they coil upwardly extending above said neck fastening assembly said multiple coils contacting said balloon above said neck fastening assembly and support a majority of said inflated balloon above said neck fastening assembly, wherein said inflated balloon is secured to said neck fastening assembly and supported by said compression spring balloon support such that said inflated balloon slightly loads said compression spring balloon support and moves up and down, side to side, and front to back as said compression spring balloon support reacts to the load of said inflated balloon.

2. The balloon display of claim 1, wherein said neck fastening assembly includes a first neck grip offset from another neck grip, said first neck grip providing a first neck slot extending in a first plane and said second neck grip providing a second neck slot extending in a second plane offset from said first plane.

3. The balloon display of claim 2, wherein said balloon includes a neck and said balloon holder further includes a stem, and said first neck grip includes a radial extension extending outwardly relative to said stem and an axial extension extending axially relative to said stem to define a neck slot, said balloon being secured to said first neck grip by having a portion of its neck received in said neck slot.

4. The balloon display of claim 3, wherein said second neck grip includes a first leg and second leg spaced from said first leg by an extension to define a second neck slot, said balloon being secured to said second neck grip by having a portion of its neck received in said second neck slot.

5. The balloon display of claim 1, wherein said compression spring coils in a circular shape.

6. The balloon display of claim 1, wherein said compression spring coils in a non-circular shape.

7. The balloon display of claim 1, wherein said balloon holder is carried on the end of a stick, such that the balloon display provides a balloon mounted on the end of a stick.