Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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13~CI~GROUND OF T~E I~`~VI.NTIOM
A currently popular novelty item is permanently
buoyant balloons of the type paten~ed in United States
Patent No. 4,077,5~8, issued on March 7, 1978. ~hen
filled with helium or any other lighter than air gas such
balloons can have advertising or a holiday message applied
to one side thereof and can be suspendecl from a string in
a horizontal, vertical or any other angular disposition to
display the message printed on the balloon.
Such balloons are also marketed as toy novelty
items with a weighting means applied to the bottom of the
balloon. As currently marketed, the weighting means
consists of a tag material having an adhesive applied to
one side and silver foil applied to the other side. The
tag material is cut so that individual tabs are arranged
in a spiral or helical pattern so that individual tabs of
the tag material may be sequentially removed to decrease
the weight of the weighting means and control the level at
which the balloon floats above the floor. The purpose of
the spirally arranged tabs appears to be to maintain the
center of gravity at the center of the baloon when the
tabs are sequentially removed one at a time.
While such a weighting means successfully holds a
helium balloon at a selected level above the floor, the
weighting means must be precisely centered in the center
of the balloon or the balloon will have an undesired tilt
determined by the degree that the weighting means is off
center. Sequential removal of the tabs will not horizon
zontally balance the balloon but instead will cause the
balloon to float higher with the ti]t rotating along with
the center of the spiral as subsequent tabs are removed.
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Since the spiral pat~ern used is designecl
specifically to maintain the balloon at a selected heiyht
while horizontally disposed, the primary use of such a
weighting means is as a toy novelty item rather than an
advertising medium or both since the top of the balloon
cannot be seen unless the balloon is floated at a level
that is below eye level.
SUMM~RY OF THE INVENTION
The disclosed invention provides a more f]exible
10 weighting means for inflatable helium balloons. While -
using tag materials similar to that used in the prior art,
the present invention cuts the tag material in
straightline segments forming tabs in rows and columns
allowing more economical manufacture. In addition, since
the geometric pattern of the improved weighting means of
the present invention is geometrically balanced having
four sides from each of which tabs can be removed, if the
weighting means is applied to the balloon off center, all
that is necessary is removal of a row or column of tabs to
center the weighting means rather than a removal of the
entire weighting means necessitated by the prior art.
In additîon, selectively removing tabs from one
side of the weighting means only can be used to
selectively impart an angle to a free-floating balloon.
Consequently, commercial utility of the ballon is improved
since advertising or holiday messages or the like may be
applied to a free floating balloon which can be observed
by an owner or user of the balloon~ The preferred
embodiment also includes a construction whereby the
weighting means can be cut in half and half applied to
each side of the balloon so that diEferent configurations
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of balloons may be used, such as a floating fish and so
that helium balloons of any shape can be disposed
vertically in a ~ree-floating manner.
It is therefore an object of the present inven
tion to provide an alternative weighting means for toy
helium filled balloons which may balance a floating
balloon in a horizontal disposition even if the weighting
means is not applied to the center of the balloon.
It is an object of the present invention to
provide an alternative weighting means for helium balloons
that permits the creation of an angular disposition of the
balloon other than horizontal.
It is an object of the present invention to
provide an alternative weighting means for helium balloons
which can be used to precisely control both the angular
disposition and the height of the balloon relative to the
floor and the height of the balloon above the floor.
It is an object of the present invention to
provide an alternative weighting means for helium balloons
which is economical to manufacture and flexible to use.
Other advantages and objects of the invention
will become apparent from a review of the drawings and
associated disclosure.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
~ Figure 1 is a representation of a prior art
weighting means for helium balloons having tabs of tag
material arranged in a spiral or helical pattern.
Figure ~ lS a detailed plan view of the outer
; surface oE the alternative weighting means of the present
invention with a portion removed to show the three
Lunctional layers of the weighting means.
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Figure 3 is an cnlarged partial sectiona1 view of
a burr attachmellt attaching tabs o~ the tag material
together for easy removal, marked by circle 3 of E'igure 2.
Figure 4 is an enlargecl par tial sectional view of
a hinge attachmellt attaching tabs of the tag material
together for easy removal, marked by circle 4 of Figure 2.
Figure 5 is a bottom plan view of an uninflated
balloon showing the application of the weighting means to
the balloon.
Figure 6 is similar to Figure S with the balloon
inflated.
Figure 7 shows the horizontal disposition of the
balloon when the alternative weighting means is geometri
cally balanced in the center of the bottom of the balloon.
Figure 8 shows a bottom plan view of an inflated
balloon with a majority of the tabs withdrawn from one
side only to impart an angular disposition to the balloon
and with a few tabs withdrawn from opposing sides to
control the level of flight of the balloon.
Figure 9 shows an angular disposition of the
balloon when the alternative weighting means is applied as
shown in Figure 8.
Figure 10 shows the alternative weighting means
split in half ana positioned on the opposite sides of the
helium balloon to maintain the balloon in a vertical
position so that any design depicted on the balloon can be
observed while it is maintained in its free-floating state.
Figure 11 shows the vertical disposition of the
balloon when the weighting means is applied as shown in
Figure 10.
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Dl.SCRI l`'l'ION OJ:~' Ti~l., PI~L~'ER~I.,D Et~BOl~IMl~ T
The presellt invention provicles a means 20 to
wei~ht fre~-floating buoyant balloons 25 filled with
heli~m or other lighter than air yases and mailltaill them
in a free--floating state between the floor and the ceiling
of a room in which they are contained.
Free-floating inflated structures 25 are
presently marketed with a weighting means 13 consisting of
removable tabs 15 which are precut into a helical or
spiral pattern such as shown in Figure 1. Such a
weighting means 13 must be precisely centered on the
bottom of the inflated balloon 25 if the balloon 25 is to
be maintained horizontally which is an object of the prior
art weighting means 13. If applied off cen~er the balloon
25 will list to the more heavily weighted side and
successive removal of tabs 15 will raise and lower the
floatable heigh~ of the balloon 25 but will not correct
the list due to the spiral nature of the pattern. Removal
of intermediate tabs 15 may correct the list but so doing
will cause the balloon 25 to float higher than desired and
will remove the consistent center of gravity so that when
the balloon 25 loses helium and more tabs 15 are removed
the list will reappear perhaps worse than before.
The present invention, being an alternative
weighting means 20 for lighter than air toy balloons 25,
provides a means 20 for weighting such balloons 25 which
is more inexpensive to manufacture due to the straightline
scoring or cutting of the tag material 28 and is more
flexible in use in that angular dispositions can be
imparted to the balloon 25 so that advertising media or
novel holiday greetings and the like or other decoration
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can be applied to the top 24 Or the ballooll 25 and
observed by a user.
Because the present invention 20 provides a
geometrically balanced pattern having four sides 30, 31,
32, 33 and consisting o~ a plurality of lateral and
longitudinal rows 38 and columns 40 of ta~s ~5, if the
weighting means 20 is applied off center it is not
necessary to atteMpt to remove the weighting means and
reapply it. Rather, geometric balance can be restored by
simply removiny from one side, 30, 31, 32 or 33 the
appropriate number of rows 38 or columns 40 of tabs 45
that exist on all sides 30-33 of the center of the balloon
25. This will balance and maintain the balloon 25 in a
horizontal disposition and removal of selected
complementary tabs 45 from any two opposing sides, 30 and
32 or 31 and 33, for example in the manner shown in Figure
8, from sides 30 and 32, will permit a precise height
control for the floating toy balloon 25.
The present invention, as applied to the balloon
25, preferably consists of three functional layers, a
permanent pressure sensitive adhesive 27 which adheres the
weighting means to the surface of the balloon 25; an
intermediate pressure sensitive tag material 28 which
contributes the majority of the weight to the weighting
means 20 and which is conveniently divided into individual
tabs 45 as will be discussed in more detail below. The
tag material 28 is covered with a pressure sensitive
silver foil 29, primarily ~or aesthetic purposes, to which
designs can be easily applied. The overall weight of the
weighting means for use with the balloon 25 such as
described in United States Patent No. 4,077,588 when such
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a buoyant balloon 25 is filled wi~h helium is 6.25 to 6.5
grams with approximately two-thirds o~ the tabs 45
necessary to Eloat the balloon 25 intermediate the ceiling
and floor. ~s shown in Fi~ure 5 the weight is distributed
over approximately one-third of undersurface 26 of the
balloon 25 when initially applied.
As shown in Figure 2, the tag material 28 and
silver foil covering 29 is scored or cut to divide it into
a large plurality of individual tabs 45. The preferred
embodiment as shown in Figure 2, consists of seventeen
rows 38 and fourteen columns 40 so that the removal of any
single tab removes less than one percent of the total
weight of the.~eighting means 20.
Also conveniently provided, as shown in Figure 2,
are strips 50, 52 of tag material 28 connected to two
opposing sides 31, 33 of the weighting means 20. These
strips 50, 52 are provided to provide a first rough
balancing mefhanism to affect either the height or the
angular disposition of the balloon 25 and after one 50, 52
or both 50, 52 of the strips have been removed individual
tabs 45 can be selectively removed to more precisely anyle
the ball(on horizontally or at any other selected angle.
Thereafter, individual tabs 45 may be removed
from opposing sides 30 and 32 or 31 and 33 of the balloon
25 to precisely position it between the floor and the
ceiling at the desired height.
Shown generally in Figure 2 and in detail in
Figures 3 and 4 is the scoring method used so that the
tabs 45 remain interconnected but in a manner that they
can be easily separated. Each tab 45 of each row 38 is
connected to the preceding row 38 by burrs 60 which
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created by scoriny or cuttiny the tab 45 almost up to, but
not completely up to, the next succeedirlg score line when
cuttin~ the columns 40 of tags. This leaves a small
amount of tag material 28 which must be broken away when
the tab 45 is removed. Similarly alternative tabs 45 are
interconnected intermediately by hinge connections 62
which are also achieved by leaving a small intermediate
portion of tag material 23 when creating the cuts or score
lines across the rows 38 of tabs of the weighting means 20.
The strips 50, 52 of material used for the
initial rough balance of the balloon are preferably
attached to the individual tabs 45 by similar hinge 62 and
burr 60 connections.
Figures 6 through lO show the flexibility
available with the present invention 20. As shown in
Figures 6 and 7 the weighting means 20 of the present
invention is centered on the bottom side 26 of the lighter
than air balloon 25 so that it floats at a horizontal
disposition as shown in Flgure 7. If accurately applied
so that it is concentric with the center of the balloon
25, the height of the balloon can be controlled by ;
removing initially the strips of material 50, 52 and
thereafter the individual tabs 45 on any two opposing
sides 30, 32 or 31, 33 of the weighting means 20. If not
applied in the first instance to the center of the balloon
25, it is not necessary to remove the weighting means 20
and reapply it. All that is necessary is to remove the -
neceSsary number of tabs 45 being a greater distance from
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the center to balance the balloon 25 and thereafter tabs
45 can be removed from oppo5ing sides 30, 32 and 31, 33 to
float the balloon at the desired heigllt as c~iscussed above.
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SlloWII in Figllre 8 alld 9 i5 use oE the weighting
means 20 to impart an anyular disposition of the balloon
25. A slight angular disposit~ion can be imparted if the
weighting means 20 is applied to the center of the balloon
25 and a greater angular disposition can be achievecl by
applying the weighting means 20 off center.
As shown in Figure 8, precise control of the
angular position can be achieved by removing the strip 50
and tabs 45 from only one side 31 of the four sided 30-33
weighting means 20. Height is then controlled by removing
complementary tabs 45 from two opposing sides 31, 33 of
the weighting means 20. Because of the geometric nature
of the weighting means 20, that is, the heavy end will
always be down and thus define a lowest point, the
advertising media or other design subscribed on the face
24 of the balloon 25 can also have a clearly defined top
and bottom for easy viewing by the purchaser or recipient
of the toy balloon 250
As shown in Figure 10 the weighting means 20 is
divided in the middle 21 into two equally weighted
portions 20', 21"; one portion of which is applied to each
side of the balloon 25 so that the balloon 25 can be
maintained in a vertical disposition as it floats at the
desired height. Dividing the weighting means 20 can
preferably be accomplished by cutting it along a scribed
line (not shown) or the weighting means 20 can be
prescored along its center 21 in the manner described
above. As with the weighting means 20, when used as a
unitary piece, control of the angular disposition of the
; 30 balloon 25 is achieved by removal oE tabs 45 from one side
21, 30, 31, 32, or 33 only and height is rnaintained at the
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desired angular disposi~ion by relllovillg an equal number of
tabs 45 from any two s:ides 30 and 32 or 21 ancl 31 or 21
and 33 of both halves 20', 20" of the weighting means 20.
This application of the weighting mealls 20 is suitable ~or
balloons 25 having designs inscribed thereon and is also
useful for variously shaped toy balloons having a defined
top 24 and bottom 26, such as a toy fish balloon and the
like.
From a consideration of the foregoing disclosure
it should be obvious that the alternative weighting means
of the present invention is inexpensive to manuEacture,
easy to install on a toy balloon, and easy to use to
achieve the desired objectives of the invention which
enhances the commercial use of such toy balloons.
Having described my invention I claim:
