US 10,328,353 B2 · Self-sealing balloon and method of manufacture

Abstract

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 can be 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.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method of fabricating a self sealing balloon assembly, said self sealing balloon assembly comprising a formed balloon having a tubular balloon neck segment extending in fluid communication between a balloon unfinished edge and a balloon gas retaining expansion cavity, the method comprising steps of:

inverting the tubular balloon neck segment, exposing an interior surface of the tubular balloon neck segment;
applying a moldable adhesive ring to the exposed portion of the interior surface of said tubular balloon neck segment, wherein the moldable adhesive ring is fabricated of a tacky moldable material;
and
positioning said tubular balloon neck segment to cover said moldable adhesive ring within a section of said tubular balloon neck segment, wherein the covering is of an arrangement that ensures said covered moldable adhesive ring does not contact any material outside of the cover until desired by a user.

1 more element

A method of fabricating a self sealing balloon assembly, the method comprising steps of:

applying a moldable adhesive ring to an exterior of a balloon neck mold segment of a balloon form member using a moldable adhesive applicator located externally to the balloon neck mold segment;
applying a balloon fabricating material to an exterior surface of the balloon form member creating the formed balloon, said formed balloon having a tubular balloon neck segment extending in fluid communication between a balloon unfinished lip and a balloon gas retaining expansion cavity, covering the moldable adhesive ring;
configuring said tubular balloon neck segment to cover said moldable adhesive ring within a section of said tubular balloon neck segment, wherein the covering is of an arrangement that ensures said covered moldable adhesive ring does not contact any material outside of the cover until desired by a user.

A method of fabricating and filling a self sealing balloon assembly, the self sealing balloon assembly comprising a formed balloon having a tubular balloon neck segment extending in fluid communication between a balloon unfinished edge and a balloon gas retaining expansion cavity, the method comprising steps of:

applying a tacky moldable material to an interior surface of said tubular balloon neck segment forming a moldable adhesive ring, wherein the tacky moldable material is applied to the interior surface of said tubular balloon neck segment by one of:
(a) applying the moldable adhesive ring to said interior surface of said tubular balloon neck segment after the formation said tubular balloon neck segment, or
(b) applying said tacky moldable material forming said moldable adhesive ring on an exterior of a balloon neck mold segment of a balloon form member using a moldable adhesive applicator located externally to the balloon neck mold segment and subsequently applying a balloon fabricating material to an exterior surface of the balloon form member;
forming the formed balloon, covering the moldable adhesive ring;
positioning said tubular balloon neck segment to cover said moldable adhesive ring within a section of said tubular balloon neck segment, wherein the substantial encasing ensures said covered moldable adhesive ring does not contact any material outside of the cover until desired by a user;
filling said balloon gas retaining expansion cavity with a volume of one of a gas or a fluid;
exposing said encased moldable adhesive ring from said section of said tubular balloon neck segment;
and
applying a compression force to said tubular balloon neck segment proximate said moldable adhesive ring causing said exposed moldable adhesive ring to create a seal, retaining said one of said gas or said fluid therein.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Self-sealing balloon and method of manufacture

Life of this patent

Self-sealing balloon and method of manufacture

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20