INTERNAL BALLOON PROJECTOR AND RELATED METHODS

Abstract

The internal balloon projector includes a base insertable into the balloon opening having a power module and a projection module. The projection module is operable to receive power from the power module and project an image onto the inner surface of the balloon upon insertion. The balloon assembly includes a balloon with the projector inserted. The balloon is inflatable, deflated and re-inflatable via an inflation passage formed within the base. The internal balloon projector is capable of sequentially projecting multiple images onto the inner surface of the balloon.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 223,708, filed July 20, 2021, the contents of which are incorporated by reference in their entirety herein.

[0003] The present invention relates to balloons, and more particularly to an apparatus and method for projecting an image onto the surface of a balloon. [Background technology]

[0004] Balloons have been entertaining people young and old for over 100 years for birthdays, holidays, and various other special occasions. Balloons are commonly decorated with words and pictures to make a special statement or simply to enhance their visual appeal. These decorations are usually applied in conjunction with the manufacture of the balloon, and customers choose from colors and decorations available at retailers.

[0005] Although not common, items are placed inside balloons (typically clear balloons) to create a different look. For example, balloon creations have been made stuffed with glitter, LED lights, stuffed toys, and other balloons. However, these creations can be difficult and time consuming to make, and in some cases require special equipment for stuffing and inflation. While a variety of fun and interesting balloon options exist, further improvements are possible. Summary of the Invention

[0006] In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide an internal balloon projector and associated methods. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the internal balloon projector includes a base insertable into an opening in a balloon and having a power module and a projection module. The projection module receives power from the power module and is operable upon insertion to project an image onto an interior surface of the balloon. A balloon assembly includes the balloon with the projector inserted therein.

[0007] According to one aspect of the invention, the base defines an inflation passageway extending from an inlet to an outlet. When the base is inserted into the balloon, the inlet remains outside the balloon and the outlet is inside the balloon. An internal check valve in the inflation passageway allows air to be introduced only in a direction toward the interior of the balloon. According to another aspect of the invention, the power supply module and the projection module are detachably connected. According to yet another aspect, the inflation passageway is formed entirely within the power supply module.

[0008] According to a method aspect, a distal end of a base of the internal balloon projector is inserted into a neck of a balloon and a proximal end of the base remains outside of the balloon, and the internal balloon projector is operative to project an image onto an inner surface of the balloon. According to a further aspect, multiple images are projected sequentially from the internal balloon projector onto the inner surface of the balloon.

[0009] These and other objects, aspects and advantages of the present invention will be better understood with reference to the drawings and the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a side view of an internal balloon projector inserted into a balloon that includes a base with a power module and a projection module in one embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2]FIG. 2 is a side view of the internal balloon projector of FIG. 1 with the power module and the projection module separated. [Diagram 3] 3 is a partial cross-sectional perspective view of the power module of FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional perspective view of the projection module of FIG. [Diagram 5] 5 is a schematic end view of the image film of the projection module of FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] 1 and 2, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the base 12 of the internal balloon projector 10 extends between a proximal end 14 and a distal end 16 and includes a power module 20 and a projection module 22. In use, the distal end 16 is inserted into a neck 24 of a balloon 26, while the proximal end 14 remains external. The power module 20 provides power to the projection module 22, which is operable to project an image onto the inner surface 30 of the balloon. The image is externally visible because the balloon 26 is translucent.

[0012] 3, the inflation passage 32 extends in the base 12 from an inlet 34 on the exterior of the balloon 26 to an outlet 36 on the interior of the balloon 26. The inlet 34 extends inwardly from the end face of the proximal end 14 and includes a reduced diameter section 40 to better seal against a standard balloon inflation nozzle. The outlet 36 is preferably formed as a plurality of outlet openings passing through the side of the base 12 toward the interior of the proximal end 14.

[0013] Preferably, a check valve 42 is disposed in the inflation passage 32 to prevent backflow of air out of the balloon. The check valve 42 includes an orifice plate 44 closed by a valve plate 46 and biased toward a closed position by a spring 50. When the valve plate 46 is removed by air pressure applied through the inlet 34, air passes through the orifice plate 44 and inflates the balloon 26 via the outlet 36.

[0014] In the illustrated embodiment, the inflation passage 32 is defined entirely within the power module 20, which is removable from the projection module 22. Extending from the inner end of the power module 20 is a male locking collar 54 that includes one or more locking elements 52 that engage with one or more locking elements 56 on a female locking collar 60 of the projection module 22 to secure the modules 20, 22 together.

[0015] In addition to the inflation passageway 32, the power module 20 includes one or more batteries 62 electrically connected to a contact plate 64 via a switch 66. A manual actuator 68 of the switch 66 is located on the exterior of the module 20 and can be operated before or after insertion of the base 12 toward the interior of the balloon 26. After insertion, the actuator 68 is inside the balloon 26 but can be operated due to the flexibility of the balloon material and the proximity of the actuator 68 to the neck 24. The batteries 62 are replaceable via a battery cover 70 located on the interior of the base 12.

[0016] 4, the projection module includes contacts 72 that engage the contact plate 64 and provide power to control electronics 74 that operate one or more light emitting diodes 76 (LEDs). In a preferred embodiment, three white LEDs are used.

[0017] Preferably, light from LEDs 76 is directed to a beam isolator tube 80, an image film 82, and a lens arrangement 84 that includes one or more lenses 86. The focused image from lens arrangement 84 then reflects off an angle mirror 90 through a projection aperture 92 that extends through a wall of the projection module 22 near the distal end 16 of the base.

[0018] Preferably, referring to Figure 5, a plurality of images 94 are formed on the image film 82, and the control electronics 74 is configured to sequentially switch the LEDs 76 on and off to individually highlight each of the plurality of images. Rapid and sequential cycling of the LEDs 76 can create an animation effect through changes to similar images. In the illustrated embodiment, three images 84 corresponding to three LEDs 76 are used, although more or fewer LEDs and images may be used.

[0019] In use, a customer determines the image they wish to project by selecting a balloon 26, and the vendor selects a projection module 22 that corresponds to the desired image. The selected projection module 22 is attached to the power module 20, and the distal end 16 of the mating base of the projector 10 is passed through its neck 24 and inserted inside the selected balloon 26. A tie, ring or other suitable closure 94 is placed around the neck 24, and the balloon 26 is secured to the base 12, with the outlet 36 of the inflation passage 32 inside the balloon 26 and the proximal end 14 and inlet 34 remaining outside.

[0020] The balloon 26 is inflated to the appropriate volume using helium, ambient air or other gas via passageway 32, and the check valve 42 and closure 94 together maintain the balloon's internal pressure. At a desired point in the process, the projector 10 is initiated via control 68 to project the desired image onto the interior surface 30. The customer can then choose to turn the projector 10 on, off, and remove the projector 10. This may be done intentionally to deflate and then reinflate the balloon 26 (e.g., as needed to pass through airport security or for convenience while traveling, etc.). Additionally, the projector 10 can be used subsequently with other balloons.

[0021] The projector of the present invention can be used in combination with any suitable balloon. If desired, balloons with pre-designed designs (including designs that complement the projected image, such as those that form a frame around the projected image) can also be used in combination with the projector. Advantageously, the projector allows a customer to select a desired balloon onto which to project their selected image, rather than being limited to a particular balloon type and color that happens to be in inventory with the desired image. The use of removable power and projection modules simplifies inventory management and allows a customer to select multiple different projection modules for use with the same power module.

[0022] The above detailed embodiments are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the present invention, rather, those skilled in the art will recognize that various modifications and adaptations to different environments are within the scope of the present invention as shown and described herein, and the scope of the claims appended hereto.

Claims

1. An internal balloon projector, comprising: a projection aperture, an image film, control electronics, and a light source connected to the control electronics, wherein the light source transmits light through the image film and projects the light through the projection aperture onto the inner surface of the balloon; a projection module operable to perform such projection; a power module removably connected to the projection module and configured to supply power to the projection module. The light source includes a plurality of LEDs configured to be switched on and off by the control electronics. The image film includes a plurality of images corresponding to the plurality of LEDs. Each image of the plurality of images corresponds to a specific LED of the plurality of LEDs, and the control electronics is configured to selectively turn on and off the plurality of LEDs to separately highlight the plurality of images through the projection aperture. An internal balloon projector.

2. An inflation passage extending from an inlet to an outlet through the power module is provided, wherein the inlet is configured to remain outside the balloon, and the outlet is configured to be located inside the balloon. The internal balloon projector according to claim 1.

3. The inlet is located on an end face of the power module. The internal balloon projector according to claim 2.

4. A check valve is disposed in the inflation passage between the inlet and the outlet, wherein the check valve is operable to allow air flow from the inlet to the outlet and block air flow from the outlet to the inlet. The internal balloon projector according to claim 2.

5. The power module is removable from the projection module, and a plurality of separate projection modules are usable with the power module. The internal balloon projector according to claim 1.

6. The power module includes at least one battery electrically connected to the power module via a switch. The internal balloon projector according to claim 1.

7. The power module further includes a manual operation portion of the switch located on an outer surface of the power module. The internal balloon projector according to claim 6.

8. The distal end is inserted into the neck of the balloon, and the manual operation portion is operable inside the balloon. The internal balloon projector according to claim 7.

9. The projection module further includes a lens arrangement between the light source and the projection aperture. The internal balloon projector according to claim 1.

10. The projection module further includes an angle mirror configured to reflect the light externally through the projection aperture. The internal balloon projector according to claim 1.

11. The light source further includes a beam isolator tube towards which the light from the plurality of LEDs is directed. The internal balloon projector according to claim 1.

12. A balloon assembly, a balloon having a neck, a projection module inserted into the neck and including a projection aperture, an image film, control electronics, and a light source connected to the control electronics, the light source being operable to project light transmitted through the image film onto the inner surface of the balloon through the projection aperture, and a power supply module removably connected to the projection module and supplying power to the projection module. The image film includes a plurality of images corresponding to the plurality of LEDs, each image of the plurality of images corresponding to a particular one of the plurality of LEDs, and the control electronics are configured to selectively turn on and off the plurality of LEDs to separately highlight the plurality of images through the projection aperture. Balloon assembly. ​

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