Balloon lighting device and method

A device for lighting an interior of an inflatable balloon having an elastic neck portion, comprising:

• a plug adapted to form an air-tight seal between said plug and the balloon neck when placed inside the elastic neck of the balloon and having a bore formed therethrough for access to the interior of the attached balloon;
• said bore including an interior end for disposition inside the balloon neck and an exterior end;
• and
• a light stick including:
• an elongated cylindrical member having an insertion end and having an outside diameter of such size as to form a sliding air-tight seal with said plug bore;
• a light source attached to said insertion end of said cylindrical member;
• said light source of a size for fitting through said bore;
• and
• electrical conductor means within said cylindrical member and contacting said light source for conducting electricity for lighting said light source.

A method of inserting a light source into an inflatable balloon having an elastic filler neck such that the light source is positionable within the inflated balloon comprises the steps of:

• inserting a plug into the elastic filler neck of an inflatable balloon;
• the plug adapted to form an air-tight seal between the neck of the balloon;
• the plug having a bore therethrough for access to an interior of the balloon;
• the bore having an interior end for disposition within the balloon neck and an exterior end;
• inflating the balloon by injecting gas through the plug bore;
• then sealing the neck such that fluid communication is sealed off between the interior of the inflated and plugged balloon and the interior end of the plug bore;
• then inserting a light stick into the exterior end of the plug bore so as to substantially seal the bore;
• the light stick comprising an elongated cylindrical member having an insertion end and having an outside diameter of such size as to form a sliding air-tight seal with the plug bore and comprising a light source attached to the insertion end of the cylindrical member;
• the light source of a size for fitting through said bore;
• and
• then releasing the neck seal and restoring fluid communication between the balloon interior and the interior plug bore;
• and
• then sliding the light stick within the bore so as to place the light source at a desired position within the inflated balloon.