Balloon luminary
AssigneePatrick Alexander, Co., Inc.
InventorMartin Cwiakala
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A helium or air filled latex balloon includes a lamp in its interior connected to an external power source by an electrically conductive cable passing through the balloon inlet port and neck. The cable comprises wires encapsulated with Kynar, a polyvinylidene fluoride, a semi-crystalline thermoplastic polymer that exhibits tacky surfaces and excellent properties for providing a weatherproof tight seal between the wire cable and the balloon. The neck is sealed with curling ribbon, by knotting or clips and the like. Air filled balloons may be supported by a stiff music wire or straw and helium filled balloons may be tethered by the cable. A power source illuminates the lamp via the cable.
Claims17
A balloon luminary comprising:
- an elastomeric inflatable light translucent membrane having a narrowed neck portion serving as a pressurized gas inlet port, said membrane forming an inflated balloon in response to pressurized gas applied to the membrane through said port into the balloon interior;
- a lamp within the balloon interior;
- electrical power means comprising a conductor passing directly through said port and directly contactable therewith and connected to said lamp for illuminating the lamp;
- said conductor comprising a pair of metal wires coated with an insulating coating for electrically isolating the two wires, the surface of said insulate coating having a sufficient coefficient of friction with and adhesivity to, said membrane, upon closing said port, to seal the port and prevent slippage of said wire, during normal operation, and
- means for closing the port for entrapping the pressurized gas in said interior.
A balloon luminary comprising:
- an elastomeric inflatable light translucent membrane having a pressurizable gas inlet port of a small diameter relative to the balloon for forming a neck on the balloon, said membrane forming an inflated balloon in response to pressurized gas applied to the membrane through said port into the balloon interior;
- an electrical conductor passing directly through said port, being directly contactable with the membrane portion of said port and connected ohmically to the lamp;
- means for closing the port for entrapping the pressurized gas in said interior;
- comprising an insulating coating on said conductor engaged in direct contact with the membrane for fluid sealing the conductor to said membrane;
- a lamp within the globe interior;
- electrical power means coupled to the conductor for illuminating the lamp.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.