A room installation is provided having at least three walls, a ceiling and floor, all of which are covered in a mirrored surface. At least one transparent window allows ambient light into the room installation. A plurality of mirrored balloons are arranged within the room installation, and filled with helium, but otherwise weighted, to float substantially within a middle height of the room installation.

A balloon formed from a lamination. The lamination includes a first layer, a second layer, a graphic design and a third layer. The first layer including from about 10 to about 90 wt. % crystalline polyester and from about 10 to about 90 wt. % of a formability enhancer to assist in increasing the polymeric chain flexibility. The formability enhancer has a melting point less than about 230° C. The first layer has a MD and a TD Young's Modulus of at least 10% lower than a crystalline polyester film in the absence of the formability enhancer. The second layer is a metallic barrier layer. The graphic design is printed onto a surface of the metallic barrier layer. The third layer is a sealant layer. The first layer is located between the second and third layers. The balloon contains a gas lighter than air.

The present invention relates to a kit that provides one or more counterweights, one or more counterweight containers, and a fastener adapted to attach the counterweight and counterweight container to the balloon. The counterweight container could be a plastic pipette, small rubber duck, plastic bottle, or something else. The fastener could be an adhesive, hook, or something else. A balloon could also be included in the kit. The counterweight container can be filled with any weight, such as water, and then attached to the helium balloon to balance the rise of the balloon. The weight can be adjusted by the addition or removal of water from the pipette. This counterweight allows for the balloon to be balanced at the desired height, free-floating, and desirable for many different applications.

A formable biaxially-oriented film includes a first layer. The first layer includes from about 10 to about 90 wt. % crystalline polyester and from about 10 to about 90 wt. % of a formability enhancer to assist in increasing the polymeric chain flexibility. The formability enhancer has a melting point less than about 230° C. The film has a MD and a TD Young's Modulus of at least 10% lower than a crystalline polyester film in the absence of the formability enhancer. The film may further include a second layer, which includes an amorphous copolyester. The second layer may be adjacent to or attached to the first layer.

A balloon formed from a lamination. The lamination includes a first layer, a second layer, a graphic design and a third layer. The first layer including from about 10 to about 90 wt. % crystalline polyester and from about 10 to about 90 wt. % of a formability enhancer to assist in increasing the polymeric chain flexibility. The formability enhancer has a melting point less than about 230° C. The first layer has a MD and a TD Young's Modulus of at least 10% lower than a crystalline polyester film in the absence of the formability enhancer. The second layer is a metallic barrier layer. The graphic design is printed onto a surface of the metallic barrier layer. The third layer is a sealant layer. The first layer is located between the second and third layers. The balloon contains a gas lighter than air.

A self-sealing balloon comprising a tubular balloon neck segment extending from an opening of a balloon gas retaining expansion cavity. A bead of moldable adhesive material is applied in a ring about an interior circumference of a neck portion of the balloon forming a dispensed adhesive roll. The dispensed adhesive roll is at least partially encapsulated within an adhesive staging segment. The adhesive staging segment is encased within a rolled lip bead by any suitable process. The rolling process aids in forming the ring-shaped adhesive. In use, the balloon would be inflated. The lip bead would be unrolled, exposing the adhesive ring. The moldable adhesive would be compressed forming a seal, entrapping pressurized air within the balloon gas retaining expansion cavity. This provides a low cost, simple self-sealing solution for a balloon.

A peroxide formulation includes at least one peroxide and at least one compound having a secondary amine group selected from amino acids, such as arginine, folic acid, and polyethyleneamines. The peroxide formulation is capable of curing an aqueous elastomer such as a latex in the full or partial presence of oxygen. Methods of using the peroxide formulation include dip-molding latex elastomer compositions.

The invention describes a method of printing onto a balloon that includes the steps of: coating the printable outer surface of a balloon with a primer material; attaching the balloon about a supporting substrate to form a balloon blank; flattening the printable outer surface of the balloon on the upper surface of the substrate; attaching a first tab on a first end of the balloon blank; attaching a second tab on a second end opposite the first end of the balloon blank; applying the balloon blank to a printer, via the first tab, which in use prints a first image onto the printable surface; and moving the balloon blank back through the printer via the second tab, which in use prints a second image onto the printable surface.

A balloon valve and pouch assembly 1 is mounted in a neck portion of a balloon and comprises a balloon valve 2 and a pouch 3. The pouch 3 is adapted to receive and retain an illumination device 100 in a predetermined position. The valve 2 has a valve inlet 2A and a valve outlet 2B provided at an opposite end of the valve 2. The valve 2 is delimited by sealing path 4 and layers 2C, 2D. The pouch 3 comprises an opening 3A through which an illumination device 100 can be inserted and a closed opposite end of the pouch 3B. The pouch 3 is delimited by the first sealing path 5 and layers 3C, 3D. The layers 3C, 3D are heat-sealed together along a first sealing path 5, which is substantially V-shaped, with the open end of the V-shape defining the pouch opening 3A and the closed end of the V-shape defining the closed end of the pouch 3B.

Non-conductive films for constructing lighter than air balloons are provided. A non-conductive film may include multiple layers of gas barrier polymers. An outer surface printable layer and an interior heat or ultrasonically sealable layer may also be included. Each gas barrier film may include multiple (e.g., from 3 to approximately 75) barrier layers. A gas barrier core has a nano-layer structure. A gas barrier core may also include a biodegradable film or a bio-based film. A non-conductive film may include a metal layer for enhancing gas barrier properties. The metal layer may be discontinuous. The metal layer may be conductive and coated with an insulating top coat.