SELF INFLATING BALLOON

Abstract

A self-inflating balloon (100) comprising: an inflatable bag (16) of substantially air impervious material; a container of compressed gas (14); trigger means (22) associated with the container (14) operable to allow gas from the container (14) to inflate the bag (16); and an enclosure (10) in which the bag (16), the container (14) and the trigger means (22) are housed. Opening the enclosure (10) may activate the trigger means (22) or provide access for activation of the trigger means (22). The balloon (100) may additionally comprise an illumination device (26).

Claims

1. A self-inflating balloon comprising: an inflatable bag of substantially air impervious material; a container of compressed gas; trigger means associated with the container operable to allow gas from the container to inflate the bag; and an enclosure in which the bag, the container and the trigger means are housed, wherein opening the enclosure activates the trigger means or provides access for activation of the trigger means and the balloon additionally comprises an illumination device.

2. A self-inflating balloon as claimed in claim 1, wherein the gas container is provided with a container gas valve, through which the compressed gas exits the container.

3. A self-inflating balloon as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inflatable bag comprises a neck portion and a body portion.

4. A self-inflating balloon as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inflatable bag is substantially or partially translucent.

5. A self-inflating balloon as claimed in claim 3, wherein the neck portion of the inflatable bag is provided with a one-way valve that is engagable with the gas container valve.

6. A self-inflating balloon as claimed in claim 5, wherein the one way valve is bonded to the inner surface of the neck of the inflatable bag such that no gas can pass therebetween.

7. A self-inflating balloon as claimed in claim 5, wherein the one-way valve is releasably engagable with the gas container valve.

8. A self-inflating balloon as claimed in claim 2, wherein the gas valve is provided with a spring or other biasing means operable to urge the gas valve open, the biasing means opposed by the trigger means.

9. A self-inflating balloon as claimed in claim 8, wherein the inflation trigger means comprises a removable pull tab initially positioned to hold the spring or biasing means in a position where the gas valve is held closed.

10. A self-inflating balloon as claimed in claim 2, wherein the gas valve is provided with a spring or other biasing means operable to urge the gas valve shut, the biasing means opposed by the trigger means.

11. A self-inflating balloon as claimed in claim 10, wherein the trigger means comprises a switch or button operable to open the gas valve when activated.

12. (canceled)

13. A self-inflating balloon as claimed in claim 1, wherein the illumination device is one or more light emitting diodes (LED).

14. A self-inflating balloon as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the illumination device is provided with a power supply comprising at least one battery or an energy scavenging means.

15. (canceled)

16. A self-inflating balloon as claimed in claim 1, wherein the illumination device is controlled in response to the activation of a trigger means.

17. A self-inflating balloon as claimed in claim 16, wherein the illumination device trigger means comprises an insulating material initially located between the battery or batteries and the LED, said material being capable of being withdrawn from extending between the battery or batteries in order to complete a circuit.

18. A self-inflating balloon as claimed in claim 16, wherein the illumination device trigger means comprises a switch or button.

19. A self-inflating balloon as claimed in claim 16, wherein the illumination device trigger means comprises a sensor operable to receive a control signal.

20. A self-inflating balloon as claimed in claim 16, wherein the inflation trigger means is also the illumination device trigger means.

21. A self-inflating balloon as claimed in claim 16, wherein the illumination device trigger means is separate to the inflation trigger means.

22. A self-inflating balloon as claimed in claim 1, wherein the illumination means is provided in the neck of the inflatable bag.

23. A self-inflating balloon as claimed in claim 1, wherein the illumination means is provided at a distal end of the body of the bag.

24. A self-inflating balloon as claimed in claim 23, wherein the illumination device has a projection whereby it is attached to the inner side of the inflatable bag, by a clip, band or O-ring fitted onto the projection from outside the balloon.

25. A self-inflating balloon as claimed in claim 1, additionally comprising an audio player operable to output sounds.

26. A self-inflating balloon as claimed in claim 25, wherein the audio player is controlled in response to the activation of a trigger means.

27. A self-inflating balloon as claimed in claim 26, wherein the audio player trigger means comprises a switch or button.

28. A self-inflating balloon as claimed in claim 26, wherein the audio player trigger means comprises a sensor operable to receive a control signal.

29. A self-inflating balloon as claimed in claim 26, wherein the inflation trigger means and/or the illumination device trigger means is also the audio player trigger means.

30. A self-inflating balloon as claimed in claim 26, wherein the audio player trigger means is separate to the inflation trigger means and/or the illumination device trigger means.

31. A self-inflating balloon as claimed in claim 25, wherein the audio player is provided integrally with the illumination means.

32. A self-inflating balloon as claimed in claim 25, wherein the audio player is provided separately to the illumination means.

33. A self-inflating balloon as claimed in claim 1, wherein the enclosure is a box with a removable lid and the inflation trigger means is attached at at least one end to the underside of the lid.

34. A self-inflating balloon as claimed in claim 1, wherein the enclosure is a flexible bag and the inflation trigger means is attached at at least one end to the inner surface of the flexible bag.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0038] In order that the invention may be more clearly understood embodiments thereof will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

[0039] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a self-inflating balloon according to the present invention, before inflation;

[0040] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the self-inflating balloon of FIG. 1, after inflation;

[0041] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of a self-inflating balloon according to the present invention, after inflation;

[0042] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the neck of the inflatable bag of an embodiment of a self-inflating balloon according to the present invention, provided with an illuminating means; and

[0043] FIG. 5 is a series of illustrations of one potential process of operating the self-inflating balloon of the present invention.

[0044] FIG. 1 shows a self-inflating balloon 100 according to the present invention, provided with an enclosure 10. The balloon 100 is adapted such that when the enclosure is opened, the balloon self-inflates.

[0045] The enclosure 10 is a box provided with a lid 12. In some embodiments, the lid 12 can be secured to the box 10 at one edge. Within the enclosure is a container of compressed gas 14 and an inflatable bag 16.

[0046] The inflatable bag 16 may be formed from a foil material such as a biaxially-oriented Polyethylene Terephthalate (BoPET) film or a BoPET film with an Ethylene Vinyl Alcohol (EVOH) gas barrier layer, and comprises a neck portion 161 and a body portion 162. Within the neck portion 161, there is provided a one-way valve 20 which is engagable with the gas valve 18. The one-way valve 20 is bonded to the inner sides of the neck portion 161 of the inflatable bag 16, such that the one-way valve 20 is the only passage through which gas can enter the bag 16.

[0047] The container of compressed gas 14 is provided with a gas valve 18, through which gas can leave the container 14. The compressed gas may be helium. The gas valve is provided with a spring or other biasing means (not shown) operable to urge the gas valve 18 open.

[0048] Within the enclosure 10 there is also provided a pull tab trigger 22, wherein one end of the pull tab 22 is bonded to the underside of the lid 12 of the enclosure 10, and the other end is initially removably located in a position holding the spring or other biasing means (not shown) into a position that holds the gas valve 18 closed, preventing any gas passing therethrough.

[0049] In use, the user opens the lid 12 of the enclosure 10 in order to inflate the balloon 16. Turning now to FIG. 2, opening the lid 12 of the enclosure 10 withdraws the pull tab trigger 22 from its initial position, allowing the spring to assume its biased position in which the gas valve is held open by the spring. Activating the trigger means allows the gas valve to open and therefore enables helium from the gas container 14 to enter the inflatable bag 16 and cause the inflatable bag to inflate. The one-way valve 20 and the gas valve 18 are releasably engagable, such that when sufficient gas has been introduced, the engagement means can be released. In this context, the balloon 16 can be separated from the gas valve 18 of the compressed gas container 14. Any suitable releasable attachment means may be used, such as a screw thread, friction fit, push button engagement means, perforated film securing means, or temporary adhesion pads.

[0050] In an alternative embodiment, the gas valve 18 is provided with a spring or other biasing means (not shown) operable to urge the valve shut. The trigger means comprises a push button (not shown) operable to act against the biasing means when activated in order to open the gas valve and allow the inflatable bag 16 to be inflated. Release of the push button causes the gas valve 18 to revert to the closed position.

[0051] Turning now to FIG. 3, the one-way valve 20 and the gas valve 18 have been released and are no longer engaged. In this context, the inflated bag 16 is able to float above the enclosure 10. The floating inflated bag 16 is retained by way of a tether 24, which is attached at one end to the inflated bag 16 by means of a knot or adhesive bond, and attached at the other end to the gas container 14. The tether 24 may be any suitable flexible tether, such as a length of ribbon, string, or wire. The tether 24 may be a length of thin wire (such as fishing wire) such that the tether cannot be easily seen.

[0052] The gas container 14 acts as a weight to prevent the inflated bag 16 floating out of reach or to an undesired height. The gas container 14 may be removed from the enclosure 10 or may be bonded thereto. In embodiments where the gas container 14 may be removed from the enclosure 10, the gas container 14 may be decorative.

[0053] There is also provided an illumination means 26. In this embodiment, the illumination means 26 is provided inside the inflatable bag 16, at a distal end of the body 16 of the bag. The illumination device 26 has a projection 28 whereby it is attached to the inside of the wall of the inflatable bag 16 by a clip, band or O-ring fitted onto the projection from outside the balloon.

[0054] An illumination means trigger 30 is provided. The illumination means trigger 30 consists of a pull tab 301 of insulating material and is provided on and bonded to the inside of the inflatable bag 16. The illumination means 26 is shown in FIG. 3 in an activated state, wherein inflation of the bag 16 has moved the illumination device 26 away from the pull tab 301, therefore withdrawing it from its initial location and completing a circuit. Further details of pull tab activation of an illumination device provided at the distal end of a balloon can be found in WO2008110832.

[0055] Turning now to FIG. 4, an alternative arrangement is shown, wherein an illumination device 26 is provided in the neck 161 of the inflatable bag 16. In this context, the illumination device 26 is provided adjacent to the one-way valve 20. The illumination device 26 is bonded to both the one-way valve 20 and the inner surface of the neck 161 of the inflatable bag 16, such that the one-way valve 20 is the only passage through which gas can enter the bag 16. In such an embodiment, the illumination device 26 is activated by use of any suitable trigger means 30. The trigger means 30 may be the same trigger as the inflation trigger, or may be a separately provided trigger of the same or of a different kind.

[0056] The illumination device 26 may additionally be activated or controlled remotely. In such embodiments, the balloon may be inflated at a first time and the illumination device 26 may be activated at a second, later time. As an example, a balloon or balloons may be inflated as part of preparation for a party. The illumination device 26 provided in each of the inflated balloons may then be subsequently activated by way of a remote control. In such embodiments, pressing a button or equivalent on a remote control sends out a control signal (typically a radio frequency (RF) or infrared signal) and the illumination device 26 is provided with a sensor that is capable of receiving said control signal. Subsequently, in response to the detection of the control signal the illumination device 26 is activated. The control signal may be operable to activate the illumination device 26 or the control signal may be operable to select a mode of activation such as constant illumination or intermittent illumination.

[0057] An audio player (not shown) operable to output sounds is provided in the neck of the inflatable bag 16. The audio player is controlled in response to the activation of a trigger means. In this embodiment, the audio player trigger means is provided integrally with the illumination means, and the audio player trigger means is the same as the illumination device trigger means.

[0058] Turning now to FIG. 5, a schematic diagram of the various steps of activating the self-inflating balloon are shown. FIG. 5A shows the enclosure 10 in its initial position, wherein the lid 12 is in the closed position. In FIG. 5B, the enclosure 10 is opened and the trigger means 22 is activated. Activation of the trigger means 22 causes the balloon to inflate, as shown in FIG. 5C. FIG. 5D shows an embodiment where the inflatable bag 16 is inflated and the body inflated bag 16 sits above the enclosure 10 and compressed gas container 14.

[0059] In cases where a lighter than air gas is used to inflate the bag, the steps of activating the self-inflating balloon continue to FIG. 5E. FIG. 5E shows an embodiment where the gas valve (not shown) and one-way valve (not shown) positioned in the neck portion 161 are releasably engagable and have been released upon inflation of the inflatable bag 16. The inflatable bag 16 is retained by way of a flexible tether 24.

[0060] In alternative embodiments, the gas used may be a hydrogenated chlorofluorocarbon compound. The inflatable bag 16 may be made of rubber latex and the body portion thereof may be substantially spherical. Obviously, since a hydrogenated chlorofluorocarbon compound is not lighter than air, a balloon inflated with such a gas would not float. Since the balloon would not float, there is no need for a tether to be provided. However, the provision of a tether would enable the user to easily tie the balloon to an object and may be included in such embodiments. In such embodiments, the enclosure may be a lightweight flexible bag. Additionally in such embodiments the neck portion 161 of the inflatable bag 16 may not be provided with a one-way valve. The gas valve 18 may engage directly with the neck portion 161 of the inflatable bag 16 and remain engaged throughout the use of the balloon. In such embodiments, the inflation trigger means may comprise any suitable trigger means. In particular, the trigger means may comprise a pull tab of material initially in contact with the gas valve 18. Withdrawing the pull tab trigger may release a spring biased to open the gas valve 18, allowing gas to enter and inflate the inflatable bag 16.

[0061] The skilled man will appreciate that any features of embodiments described herein as using helium (or another lighter than air gas) such as but not limited to the particular trigger means provided, the provision of a one-way valve in the neck of the inflatable bag, and the provision of a tether, may equally be adapted to an embodiment of the present invention as herein described as using a heavier than air gas, and vice versa.

[0062] The above embodiments are described by way of example only. Many variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.