DISPOSABLE BALLOON HOLDER AND METHOD OF USING

Abstract

A holder for an inflatable balloon includes an elongate blank formed from cardboard or similar biodegradable yet resilient material that can be folded at its mid region and having an opening at a first end for receiving the inflation stem of an inflated balloon, and in one embodiment has at its other end portion a pressing element and slots formed in the end portions to be aligned when the elongate element is folded upon itself to pinch the stem of the inflated balloon. In another embodiment, a receptacle is provided by engaging tabs and slots at the respective end portions.

Claims

1. A holder for receiving the inflation stem of an inflatable balloon, comprising an elongate blank formed from cardboard or similar biodegradable material and having an opening at a first end portion and a second end portion, said opening being adapted for receiving the inflation stem of an inflated balloon, a fold line along a mid region of said elongate blank to enable the elongate blank to be folded at its mid region to being the first and second end portions together to hold an inflated balloon.

2. A holder for receiving the inflation stem of an inflatable balloon as set forth in claim 1, including at least one slot adjacent said opening to receive and pinch tightly the stem of the inflated balloon, the second end portion of said elongate blank having a pressing element configured to align with said first end portion when said elongate blank is folded upon itself to bring said pressing portion into alignment with the first end portion.

3. A holder for receiving the inflation stem of an inflatable balloon as set forth in claim 2, said elongate blank being folded upon itself to bring said second end portion into alignment with said first end portion into a configuration to press the balloon stem there between; said pressing element having at least one slot to align with said at least one slot of the first end portion to receive and pinch tightly the stem of the inflated balloon whereby the stem of the inflated balloon would be stretched to fit within the aligned slots to further grip the stem of the balloon between said first end portion and said pressing element.

4. A holder for receiving the inflation stem of an inflatable balloon as set forth in claim 3, further including two slots positioned on respective side portions of the opening in said first end portion and said second end portion to enable the stem of the inflated balloon to be wrapped tightly around the aligned first end portion and said pressing element to more securely pinch the stem of the inflated balloon.

5. A holder for receiving the inflation stem of an inflatable balloon as set forth in claim 2, further including two slots positioned on respective side portions of the opening in said first end portion and said second end portion to enable the stem of the inflated balloon to be wrapped tightly around the aligned first end portion and said pressing element to more securely pinch the stem of the inflated balloon.

6. A holder for receiving the inflation stem of an inflatable balloon as set forth in claim 1, said first end portion and said second end portions having mating tabs and slots to enable a receptacle to be formed for holding the inflated balloon as the elongate member is folded along its mid region to bring said first and second end portions into engagement.

7. A holder for receiving the inflation stem of an inflatable balloon, comprising an elongate blank formed from cardboard or similar biodegradable material and having an opening at a first end portion, said opening being adapted for receiving the inflation stem of an inflated balloon, and at least one slot adjacent the opening to receive and pinch tightly the stem of the inflated balloon, the other end of said elongate blank having a pressing element configured to align with said first end portion when said elongate blank is folded upon itself to bring the pressing portion into alignment with the first end portion.

8. A holder for receiving the inflation stem of an inflatable balloon as set forth in claim 7, said elongate blank being folded upon itself to bring the pressing portion into alignment with the first end portion into a configuration to press the balloon stem there between; said pressing portion having at least one slot to align with said at least one slot of the first end portion to receive and pinch tightly the stem of the inflated balloon whereby the stem of the inflated balloon would be stretched to fit within the aligned slots to further grip the stem of the balloon between said first end portion and said pressing portion.

9. A holder for receiving the inflation stem of an inflatable balloon as set forth in claim 8, further including two slots positioned on respective side portions of the opening in said first end portion to enable the stem of the inflated balloon to be wrapped tightly around the aligned first end portion and said pressing end portion to more securely pinch the stem of the inflated balloon.

10. A holder for receiving the inflation stem of an inflatable balloon as set forth in claim 8, further including two slots positioned on respective side portions of the opening in said first end portion to enable the stem of the inflated balloon to be wrapped tightly around the aligned first end portion and said pressing end portion to more securely pinch the stem of the inflated balloon.

11. A method for providing a holder for receiving the inflation stem of an inflatable balloon, including inserting the inflation stem of an inflatable balloon into an opening in a first end portion of an elongate blank formed from cardboard or similar biodegradable material, folding the elongate blank along a mid region of the elongate blank and bring the end portions together to hold an inflated balloon.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] FIG. 1 illustrates the holder for an inflated balloon as it is stamped from a section of card or paperboard according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

[0014] FIG. 2 illustrates the front side of a holder for an inflated balloon as it is stamped from a section of card or paperboard according to the second embodiment of the present invention;

[0015] FIG. 3 illustrates the rear side of a holder for an inflated balloon as it is stamped from a section of card or paperboard according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0016] The holder 10 of an embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 1 with its preferred dimensions; and is preferably stamped from a 200 gram (GSM) or heavier, paper/kraft paper/cardboard material. Such material is biodegradable and thus environmentally favored as it can be disposed without the plastic waste associated with plastic balloon holders.

[0017] The holder 10 is formed as an elongate blank 12 that narrows towards its mid region and has an opening 14 at a first end portion 15. The elongate blank 12 has at its other end portion 16 a pressing element 18 which may also have an opening 20. The stem of an inflated balloon can be inserted through the opening 14 and the elongate blank 12 can be folded upwardly along fold line 19 to bring the pressing element 18 into alignment with the first end portion 15 to press the balloon stem between first end portion 15 and pressing portion 18.

[0018] The first end portion 15 and the pressing element 18 each have respective slots 22 and 24 that can be aligned when the elongate blank is folded. The balloon stem can thus be held between the first end portion 15 and the pressing element 18, and the balloon stem stretched and wrapped into the slots 22 and 24 forcibly to press the balloon stem between first end portion 15 and the pressing element 18. In the way, the balloon stem can be held securely.

[0019] In this embodiment of the present invention, the stem of an inflated balloon can be pinched tightly enough so that the stem need not be tied into knot.

[0020] In another embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the first end portion 30 of an elongate blank 32 has an opening 34 to receive the stem of an inflated balloon, and is configured with tabs 35 and 36 to receive slots 37 and 38 formed in the other end 40 of the elongate blank 32. The filling stem of an inflated balloon can be inserted through the one side of the opening 34 and the outer end tied into a knot. The opening 34 is sized to be smaller in diameter than the knot tied in the filling stem.

[0021] The blank 32 can be folded upwardly along fold line 42 in its mid region to bring the other end 40 towards the balloon stem extending through opening 34, and the fold lines 44 and 45 of the first end portion can be folded to approximately right angles to enable the tabs 35 and 36 to be inserted into the slots 37 and 38 to form a receptacle; with the knot of the balloon stem extending outside the receptacle.

[0022] The receptacle thus formed is able to receive the end portion of an inflated balloon. In this second embodiment, the inflation stem is passed through the opening 34 from what would be the inside of the receptacle to be formed. In this way, unlike the first embodiment, a supportive receptacle for the portion of the balloon having the inflation stem can be provided.