# US 7,967,344 B2 · Portable balloon tying device, station and caddy

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 7,967,344 B2
- Document ID: US7967344B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/524,599
- Filed: 2008-02-07
- Published: 2010-02-18
- Granted: 2011-06-28
- Earliest claimed: 2007-02-17
- Inventors: Gerald R. Herren
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7967344B2

## CPC

- A63H 27/10: Balloons (connection of valves to inflatable elastic bodies B60C29/00; {other than toy aspects B64B1/40})
- A63H 2027/105: {Knotting means}
- A63H: TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS

## Abstract

A balloon tying device has a base adapted for attaching to a support structure. A cantilever, supported by the base and protruding away from the support structure, is attached to the base. The cantilever has a U-shaped cross section and two ears defining generally parallel planes extending outwardly and terminating at the tip for retaining a loop of balloon material. Inside the U-shape of the cantilever is an axially oriented recess for passing ribbon and providing clearance for tucking the overhand knot. A brace tab extends downward from the lower edge of the base. A ribbon retainer is disposed on the device for integrating spooled or pre-cut ribbon into the balloon knot. The support structure can be human fingers, a station stanchion, a tank stand, or a caddy leg.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A balloon tying device comprising:
a base adapted for attaching to a support structure; and
a cantilever supported by said base and protruding away from the support structure, said cantilever having a U-shaped cross section, said cantilever having a proximal region closest to said base and a distal region, said proximal region having two ears defining generally parallel planes extending outwardly therefrom, each of said ears terminating in a distal retaining edge for retaining a loop of balloon material, said cantilever defining inside said U-shape an axially oriented recess, said recess extending from said proximal region and between said ears to said distal region; and
a brace tab extending downward from the lower edge of said base; and
a ribbon retainer disposed on said device, said ribbon retainer further comprising a proximal ribbon retaining section and a distal ribbon retaining section.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A balloon tying device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said support structure is selected from the group consisting of at least two human fingers, a station stanchion, a tank stand, and a caddy leg.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

A balloon tying device in accordance with claim 2 wherein the bottom edge of said brace tab is curled.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

A balloon tying device in accordance with claim 2 wherein said proximal ribbon retaining section further comprises a band disposed in slots positioned in said cantilever proximal region and said distal ribbon retaining section further comprises a band disposed in slots positioned in said cantilever distal region.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

A balloon tying device in accordance with claim 2 wherein said proximal ribbon retaining section further comprises a proximal pin disposed in said cantilever proximal region and said distal ribbon retaining section further comprises a distal pin disposed in said cantilever distal region.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

A balloon tying device in accordance with claim 5 wherein said proximal ribbon retaining section further comprises a proximal ribbon guide disposed on the upper edge of said base and said distal ribbon retaining section further comprises a distal ribbon guide disposed in said cantilever distal region.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

A balloon tying device in accordance with claim 6 wherein said proximal ribbon guide further comprises at least one mounting tab, at least one straight-feed slot, and at least one side-feed slot.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

A balloon tying device in accordance with claim 7 wherein said distal ribbon guide further comprises a distal slot insert removably coupled to said distal pin in said cantilever distal region.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

A balloon tying device of claim 8 further comprising a ribbon spool stand disposed on said base.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

A balloon tying device of claim 8 wherein said device is disposed on at least one station stanchion, said station stanchion further disposed on a tying station, said tying station further comprising at least one ribbon spool stand.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

A balloon tying device of claim 8 wherein said device is disposed on a tank stand, said tank stand further disposed on a gas tank, said tank stand further comprising at least one ribbon spool stand.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

A balloon tying device of claim 8 wherein said device is disposed on a tyer folding leg of a caddy, said caddy further comprising a caddy base and at least one ribbon spool stand disposed on a ribbon folding leg, said caddy base further comprising tying accessory storage cutouts.