Internal balloon illumination with self-sealing valve apparatus and method

An illuminable apparatus, comprising:

• a housing having formed therein a region for accepting a power supply and a region for accepting a control circuit;
• a control circuit disposed in the region for accepting a control circuit, the control circuit including circuitry for providing a time-modulated voltage to a light source electrically connected thereto;
• a cylindrical spacer having an external diameter, secured at a first axial end thereof to the housing, configured to receive a portion of an inflatable structure and provide a surface against which that portion of the inflatable structure may be secured;
• a shoulder flange having a region whose diameter is greater than the external diameter of the cylindrical spacer, secured to the cylindrical housing at a second axial end opposite the first axial end, configured to permit the placement of a portion of an inflatable structure thereover, but to resist removal of that portion of the inflatable structure;
• an elongated cylindrical body secured at a first axial end thereof to the shoulder flange and extending axially away from the housing;
• a polychromatic light source secured at a second axial end of the elongated cylindrical body opposite the first axial end;
• electrical interconnections connecting the polychromatic light source and the control circuit;
• and
• a hollow structure including a self-sealing valve for accommodating the elongated cylindrical body, the hollow structure being self-sealable by an internal gas pressure acting on the valve, and the hollow structure comprising at least one characteristic selected from a group consisting essentially of inflatablity, translucence, and transparence.

An illuminable balloon assembly of the type for receiving a balloon having a central region and an inflation region, comprising:

• a housing having formed therein a region for accepting a power supply and a region for accepting a control circuit;
• a control circuit disposed in the region for accepting a control circuit, the control circuit including circuitry for providing a time-modulated voltage to a light source electrically connected thereto;
• a cylindrical spacer having an external diameter, secured at a first axial end thereof to the housing, receiving a portion of the inflation region thereover and providing a surface against which that portion of the inflation region is secured;
• a shoulder flange having a region whose diameter is greater than the external diameter of the cylindrical spacer, secured to the cylindrical housing at a second axial end opposite the first axial end, over which a portion of the inflation region extends, which resists removal of that portion of the inflation region;
• an elongated cylindrical body secured at a first axial end thereof to the shoulder flange and extending axially away from the housing, through the inflation region, and into the central region;
• a polychromatic light source secured at a second axial end of the elongated cylindrical body opposite the first axial end and disposed within the central region such that it is at or near the circumferential center of the balloon;
• and
• electrical interconnections connecting the polychromatic light source and the control circuit;
• and
• a balloon including a self-sealing valve for accommodating the elongated cylindrical body, the balloon being self-sealable by an internal gas pressure acting on the valve.

An illuminable apparatus, comprising:

• a housing having formed therein a region for accepting a power supply and a region for accepting a control circuit;
• a control circuit disposed in the region for accepting a control circuit, the control circuit including circuitry for providing a time-modulated voltage to a light source electrically connected thereto;
• a cylindrical spacer having an external diameter, secured at a first axial end thereof to the housing, configured to receive a portion of an inflatable structure and provide a surface against which that portion of the inflatable structure may be secured;
• a shoulder flange having a region whose diameter is greater than the external diameter of the cylindrical spacer, secured to the cylindrical housing at a second axial end opposite the first axial end, configured to permit the placement of a portion of an inflatable structure thereover, but to resist removal of that portion of the inflatable structure;
• an elongated cylindrical body secured at a first axial end thereof to the shoulder flange and extending axially away from the housing;
• a polychromatic light source secured at a second axial end of the elongated cylindrical body opposite the first axial end;
• and electrical interconnections connecting the polychromatic light source and the control circuit;
• a generally dome-shaped casing forming a cap at the second axial end of the elongated cylindrical body within which the light source is disposed;
• an attachment device receiving region secured to the housing, configured to allow the connection of an external attachment device thereto;
• and
• an inflatable structure including a self-sealing valve for accommodating the elongated cylindrical body, the inflatable structure being self-sealable by an internal gas pressure acting on the valve,
• wherein the light source is a light emitting diode,
• wherein the light source is a surface mount technology light emitting diode,
• wherein the light source is disposed proximate the second axial end of the elongated cylindrical body but within the interior of the elongated cylindrical body, and
• wherein the elongated cylindrical body is configured to be inelastically deformed without breaking.

A kit for illuminating a self-sealable inflatable structure, comprising:

• an illuminable apparatus comprising:
• a housing having formed therein a region for accepting a power supply and a region for accepting a control circuit;
• a control circuit disposed in the region for accepting a control circuit, the control circuit including circuitry for providing a time-modulated voltage to a light source electrically connected thereto;
• a cylindrical spacer having an external diameter, secured at a first axial end thereof to the housing, configured to receive a portion of an inflatable structure and provide a surface against which that portion of the inflatable structure may be secured;
• a shoulder flange having a region whose diameter is greater than the external diameter of the cylindrical spacer, secured to the cylindrical housing at a second axial end opposite the first axial end, configured to permit the placement of a portion of an inflatable structure thereover, but to resist removal of that portion of the inflatable structure;
• an elongated cylindrical body secured at a first axial end thereof to the shoulder flange and extending axially away from the housing;
• a polychromatic light source secured at a second axial end of the elongated cylindrical body opposite the first axial end;
• electrical interconnections connecting the polychromatic light source and the control circuit;
• an inflatable structure including a self-sealing valve for accommodating the elongated cylindrical body, the inflatable structure being self-sealable by an internal gas pressure acting on the valve;
• and
• a retaining sleeve comprising:
• a generally conically shaped inflatable structure support region having an opening extending the length of the elevation of the inflatable structure support region sized and disposed for receiving the elongated cylindrical body;
• a circuitry and power supply housing receiving region, having a lateral open face sized and disposed for receiving the housing;
• a securing device receiving region, extending between and connecting the inflatable structure support region and the housing receiving region, having an opening therein sized and disposed for receiving at least one of:
• a portion of the elongated cylindrical body, the cylindrical spacer, and the shoulder flange;
• and
• a holding mechanism receiving region connected to the housing receiving region opposite the securing device receiving region having a opening therein sized and disposed to receive an auxiliary holding device.