초록 ▼

The present invention is directed to apparatus and methods for inserting objects into balloons. The apparatus preferably includes a housing having a balloon chamber and a vacuum pump chamber therein. The balloon chamber is large enough to accommodate an inflated balloon and has a lid through which t

The present invention is directed to apparatus and methods for inserting objects into balloons. The apparatus preferably includes a housing having a balloon chamber and a vacuum pump chamber therein. The balloon chamber is large enough to accommodate an inflated balloon and has a lid through which the inflated balloon can pass. The vacuum pump chamber houses a vacuum pump which is in gaseous communication with the balloon chamber in order to create a vacuum therein. The lid includes an adjustable mechanism for first expanding and then maintaining a balloon orifice in an expanded condition to enable access to the interior of the balloon in a position in which the balloon extends downwardly from the lid to a position inside the balloon chamber. The vacuum pump may then be actuated to cause the balloon to inflate within the balloon chamber so that the desired object may be inserted through an access opening in the lid to the inside of the balloon. After the balloon is inflated and the object inserted thereinto, the access opening is capped so that the lid may be removed, dissipating the vacuum within the balloon chamber. The inflated balloon may then be tied and removed from the lid.

대표청구항 ▼

An apparatus for inserting an object into a balloon comprising: a housing defining a balloon chamber and a vacuum pump chamber therein, said balloon chamber having a size sufficient to accommodate an inflated balloon and having an opening sufficiently large to pass an inflated balloon therethrough,

An apparatus for inserting an object into a balloon comprising: a housing defining a balloon chamber and a vacuum pump chamber therein, said balloon chamber having a size sufficient to accommodate an inflated balloon and having an opening sufficiently large to pass an inflated balloon therethrough, and said vacuum pump chamber accommodating a vacuum pump therein; a valve in gaseous communication with the balloon chamber and with the vacuum pump within the vacuum pump chamber, said valve permitting air to be removed from the balloon chamber to form a vacuum within the balloon chamber and said valve preventing air to enter the balloon chamber thereby maintaining the vacuum within the balloon chamber; a lid for covering the opening of the balloon chamber and having means for forming a substantially airtight seal with the balloon chamber, and means for accommodating a replaceable hub, a replaceable hub for removable disposition in the accommodating means and having means for maintaining the orifice of the balloon in a predetermined expanded condition, means for accessing the interior of the inflated balloon through the expanded balloon orifice, and means for forming a substantially airtight seal with the lid; and a removable cap for forming a substantially airtight seal with the accessing means.