Balloon creation tool and balloon creation tool set

Abstract

To provide a balloon creation tool that allows for easily creating a balloon by using a nano tape.SOLUTION: A balloon creation tool 1 includes: two housings 10, 12 connected with each other via a hinge 14 such that surfaces 18, 20 having recesses 26, 42 therein overlap each other; and a nozzle 16 sandwiched between the two housings 10, 12 in an attachable and detachable manner. One end of the nozzle 16 is located in the recesses 26, 42 while the other end thereof is attachably and detachably connected to a cylinder capable of pumping air.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a balloon making tool and a balloon making tool set. [Background technology]

[0002] Double-sided tape made of polymer materials such as silicone and polyurethane and featuring a fine nanostructure is commercially available. This double-sided tape is commonly known as "nanotape." Nanotape leaves little residue on the adhesive surface when peeled off, making it reusable.

[0003] Non-Patent Document 1 discloses a method for making a balloon by utilizing the excellent elasticity of nanotape and injecting air into a rectangular parallelepiped formed from nanotape. [Prior art documents] [Non-patent literature]

[0004] [Non-Patent Document 1] "How to make nanotape balloons", [online], April 10, 2023, [Retrieved May 28, 2024], Internet<URL:https: / / news.infoseek.co.jp / article / iemone_414834 / > Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] According to the method for making balloons using nanotape described in Non-Patent Document 1, a rectangular parallelepiped must be formed using nanotape. The creator must manually hold down the outer edges of the rectangular parallelepiped to prevent air leakage and then glue them together, which is time-consuming. Furthermore, the creator must blow air into the rectangular parallelepiped through a straw inserted inside, which makes it difficult to make the balloon. Therefore, the present invention aims to provide a balloon-making tool that uses nanotape to easily make balloons. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A balloon-making tool according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises two housings joined by a hinge so that their respective surfaces, each having a recess on the inside, overlap, and a nozzle removably sandwiched between the two housings, one end of the nozzle being located within the recess and the other end being removably connected to a cylinder capable of pumping air.

[0007] A balloon making tool set according to one embodiment of the present invention includes the balloon making tool described above and a guide for cutting the nano tape to a predetermined length. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a balloon making tool that can easily make balloons using nanotape. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1A is a perspective view of the balloon making tool according to the embodiment in a closed state, as seen from above, and FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the balloon making tool in a closed state, as seen from below. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the balloon making tool in an open state. [Figure 3] Cross-sectional view taken along line III-III. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a nozzle and a nozzle guide. [Figure 5] A perspective view of a balloon-making tool with nanotape placed on it. [Figure 6] This is a diagram of a cylinder connected to a nozzle sandwiched between nanotapes. [Figure 7] The inside of the folded nanotape expands to form a balloon. [Figure 8] This is a picture of a balloon made using nanotape with decorations attached. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 illustrates cutting nanotape using a cutter guide. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] [Structure of balloon making equipment] The structure of a balloon-making tool 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. As shown in FIG. 1, the balloon-making tool 1 comprises a first housing 10, a second housing 12, hinges 14L and 14R, and a nozzle 16. The balloon-making tool 1 resembles a bivalve shell. The first housing 10 and the second housing 12 can be opened and closed by hinges 14L and 14R provided at their ends. Specifically, the first housing 10 and the second housing 12 are rotatably supported by the hinges 14L and 14R so that they can rotate about a rotational axis Ax extending along the left-right axis. The structure of the balloon-making tool 1 is generally symmetrical with respect to the rotational axis Ax.

[0011] In the following description, as shown in FIG. 1, the direction in which the hinges 14L, 14R are arranged is defined as the left-right direction (the left side in FIG. 1 is defined as left), the direction in which the nozzles 16 are provided relative to the hinges 14L, 14R is defined as the front, and the opposite direction is defined as the rear. The left-right direction and the front-rear direction are perpendicular to each other. The direction perpendicular to the left-right and front-rear directions is defined as the up-down direction (the upper side in FIG. 1 is defined as up). The up-down direction, the left-right direction, and the front-rear direction are defined for the convenience of explanation. Therefore, the up-down direction, the left-right direction, and the front-rear direction do not have to coincide with the up-down direction, the left-right direction, and the front-rear direction when the balloon making tool 1 is in use. Furthermore, the up-down direction and the down-down direction may be interchanged, the left-right direction may be interchanged, and the front-rear direction may be interchanged.

[0012] As shown in FIG. 1(a), the first housing 10 has a shape similar to a seashell. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the upper end of the first housing 10 has a first opposing surface 18 that is perpendicular to the up-down direction. When viewed from above, the first opposing surface 18 has a generally fan-shaped configuration centered on the front direction, and the front end is linear and extends in the left-right direction. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 1(b), when the first housing 10 and the second housing 12 are closed, the first housing 10 has a first side surface 22 at its rear end that is perpendicular to the front-to-back direction. When viewed from behind, the first side surface 22 has a generally rectangular shape extending in the left-right direction. The first side surface 22 is perpendicular to a first planar recess (recess) 26, which will be described later. The upper part of the first opposing surface 18 is covered with a curved surface that is like a seashell.

[0013] As shown in FIG. 2, a first mounting frame 24 is provided inside the first opposing surface 18. When viewed from above, the first mounting frame 24 has a generally rectangular shape with a left side, a right side, a front side, and a rear side. The front side of the first mounting frame 24 is positioned along the front end of the first opposing surface 18. The first mounting frame 24 is recessed from the first opposing surface 18 in a concave shape. The depth of this recess is determined depending on the thickness of the nanotape NT used, and is a depth that provides an appropriate pressure bonding margin, which will be described later. The first mounting frame 24 is recessed, for example, by about 0.5 mm downward from the first opposing surface 18.

[0014] A first planar recess (recess) 26 is provided inside the first mounting frame 24. The first planar recess 26 is recessed downward from the first mounting frame 24. In other words, the first mounting frame 24 is positioned to surround the first planar recess 26. The first mounting frame 24 is recessed downward from the first opposing surface 18 so as to be located between the first opposing surface 18 and the first planar recess 26. The first planar recess 26 has a substantially rectangular shape having a left side, a right side, a front side, and a rear side when viewed from above. The front side of the first planar recess 26 is positioned along the front end of the first opposing surface 18. The first planar recess 26 is recessed, for example, by about 1 mm downward from the first mounting frame 24. This prevents the nanotape NT placed on the first mounting frame 24 from coming into contact with the first planar recess 26.

[0015] A first hemispherical recess (recess) 28 is provided inside the first planar recess 26. The first hemispherical recess 28 is recessed in a substantially hemispherical shape downward from the first planar recess 26. Therefore, the first hemispherical recess 28 has a circular shape when viewed from above. The first hemispherical recess 28 is recessed, for example, about 3 mm to 5 mm at its deepest part downward from the first planar recess 26. This prevents the nanotape NT placed on the first mounting frame 24 from coming into contact with the first hemispherical recess 28.

[0016] As shown in FIG. 2 , upwardly protruding protrusions 30a, 30b, and 30c are evenly arranged in this order from rear to front along the left side of the first mounting frame 24. On the right side of the first mounting frame 24, upwardly protruding protrusions 30d, 30e, and 30f are evenly arranged in this order toward the rear. When the first housing 10 and the second housing 12 are closed and the first opposing surface 18 and the second opposing surface 20 are overlapped, a small gap is formed between the protrusions 30a, 30b, 30c, 30d, 30e, and 30f and the second mounting frame 40. Therefore, when the nanotape NT is sandwiched between the first housing 10 and the second housing 12 and closed, the left and right ends of the nanotape NT corresponding to the first mounting frame 24 and the second mounting frame 40 are firmly pressed against each other.

[0017] Guides 32a, 32b, 32c, and 32d are uniformly arranged in this order from left to right along the rear edge of the first mounting frame 24. The guides 32a, 32b, 32c, and 32d are L-shaped plate-like members, with one end extending upright from the first opposing surface 18 and the other end positioned within the first mounting frame 24 when viewed from above. Therefore, when viewed from the left or right, a gap CL is provided between the guides 32a, 32b, 32c, and 32d and the first mounting frame 24. The end of the nanotape NT is sandwiched in the gap CL. The vertical length of the gap CL depends on the thickness of the nanotape NT used.

[0018] Guide holes 34a and 34b are provided between guides 32a and 32b, and between guides 32c and 32d, respectively. In other words, from left to right, the guides are lined up in the following order: guide 32a, guide hole 34a, guide 32b, guide 32c, guide hole 34b, and guide 32d. The guide holes 34a and 34b fit into guides 48a and 48b, which will be described later, when the first housing 10 and the second housing 12 are closed. As a result, when the first housing 10 and the second housing 12 are closed, the first mounting frame 24 and the second mounting frame 40, which will be described later, come into contact with each other so as to overlap each other.

[0019] A first receiving groove 36 is provided at the rear end of the first opposing surface 18, in the center in the left-right direction. The first receiving groove 36 extends from the rear end of the first opposing surface 18 to the first hemispherical recess 28 via the first mounting frame 24 and the first planar recess 26. The first receiving groove 36 is recessed so that it accommodates approximately the upper half of the nozzle 16 when the first housing 10 and the second housing 12 are closed, and so that the first opposing surface 18 and the second opposing surface 20 come into contact when the first housing 10 and the second housing 12 are closed. More specifically, the first receiving groove 36 is composed of a rear recess 36a, an intermediate recess 36b, and a front recess 36c. The rear recess 36a and the front recess 36c are fitted with approximately the upper half of the cylinder connecting portion 16a and the air inlet 16c, respectively, as described below. The intermediate recess 36b is fitted with guide rails 56L, 56R, and a nozzle guide 54, as described below. As a result, when the first housing 10 and the second housing 12 are closed, the first mounting frame 24 and the second mounting frame 40 (described later) come into contact with each other so as to overlap each other.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 1(a), the second housing 12 has a shape similar to a seashell. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the upper end of the second housing 12 has a second opposing surface 20 that is perpendicular to the up-down direction. When viewed from above, the second opposing surface 20 is generally fan-shaped with its center in the rear direction, and its rear end is linear and extends in the left-right direction. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 1(b), when the first housing 10 and the second housing 12 are closed, the second housing 12 has a second side surface 38 at its rear end that is perpendicular to the front-to-back direction. When viewed from the rear, the second side surface 38 has a generally rectangular shape that extends in the left-right direction. The second side surface 38 is perpendicular to a second planar recess (recess) 42 (described later). The lower side of the second opposing surface 20 is covered with a curved surface that is like a seashell. A bottom surface 12a that is perpendicular to the up-down direction is provided at the lower end of the second housing 12. When the balloon making tool 1 is placed on a desk (not shown) or the like, the bottom surface 12a comes into contact with the surface of the desk.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 2, a second mounting frame 40 is provided inside the second opposing surface 20. When viewed from above, the second mounting frame 40 has a generally rectangular shape with a left side, a right side, a front side, and a rear side. The rear side of the second mounting frame 40 is positioned along the rear end of the second opposing surface 20. The second mounting frame 40 is recessed downward from the second opposing surface 20 in a concave shape. The depth of this recess is determined depending on the thickness of the nanotape NT used, and is a depth that provides an appropriate pressure-bonding margin, which will be described later. The second mounting frame 40 is recessed downward from the second opposing surface 20 by, for example, about 0.5 mm.

[0022] A second planar recess (recess) 42 is provided inside the second mounting frame 40. The second planar recess 42 is recessed downward from the second mounting frame 40. In other words, the second mounting frame 40 is positioned so as to surround the second planar recess 42. The second mounting frame 40 is recessed downward from the second opposing surface 20 so as to be located between the second opposing surface 20 and the second planar recess 42. The second planar recess 42 has a substantially rectangular shape having a left side, a right side, a front side, and a rear side when viewed from above. The rear side of the second planar recess 42 is positioned so as to align with the rear end of the second opposing surface 20. The second planar recess 42 is recessed, for example, by about 1 mm downward from the second mounting frame 40. This prevents the nanotape NT placed on the second mounting frame 40 from coming into contact with the second planar recess 42.

[0023] Furthermore, a second hemispherical recess (recess) 44 is provided inside the second planar recess 42. The second hemispherical recess 44 is recessed in a substantially hemispherical shape downward from the second planar recess 42. Therefore, the second hemispherical recess 44 has a circular shape when viewed from above. The second hemispherical recess 44 is recessed, for example, downward from the second planar recess 42 by about 5 mm at its deepest part. As a result, the nanotape NT placed on the second mounting frame 40 does not come into contact with the second hemispherical recess 44.

[0024] In this way, the nanotape NT placed on the first mounting frame 24 does not come into contact with the first planar recess 26 and the first hemispherical recess 28. The nanotape NT placed on the second mounting frame 40 does not come into contact with the second planar recess 42 and the second hemispherical recess 44. In other words, the nanotape NT placed on the first mounting frame 24 and the second mounting frame 40 comes into contact only with the first mounting frame 24 and the second mounting frame 40. Therefore, when the nanotape NT is sandwiched between the first housing 10 and the second housing 12 and closed, the vicinity of the outer edges of the nanotape NT corresponding to the first mounting frame 24 and the second mounting frame 40 are compressed, and a space SP is formed inside the folded nanotape NT.

[0025] Protrusions 46a, 46b, and 46c protruding upward are evenly arranged in this order from back to front along the left edge of the second mounting frame 40. More specifically, when the first housing 10 and the second housing 12 are closed and the first opposing surface 18 and the second opposing surface 20 are overlapped, the protrusions 46a, 46b are arranged so that the protrusion 30a is located between the protrusions 46a and 46b, the protrusion 30b is located between the protrusions 46b and 46c, and the protrusion 46c is located between the protrusions 30b and 30c. Furthermore, protrusions 46d, 46e, and 46f protruding upward are evenly arranged in this order from back to front along the right edge of the second mounting frame 40. More specifically, the protrusions 46a, 46b, 46c, 46d, 46e, and 46f are arranged such that, when the first housing 10 and the second housing 12 are closed and the first opposing surface 18 and the second opposing surface 20 are overlapped, the protrusion 30d is located between the protrusions 46d and 46e, the protrusion 30e is located between the protrusions 46e and 46f, and the protrusion 46f is located between the protrusions 30e and 30f. Furthermore, when the first housing 10 and the second housing 12 are closed and the first opposing surface 18 and the second opposing surface 20 are overlapped, there is a slight gap between the protrusions 46a, 46b, 46c, 46d, 46e, and 46f and the first mounting frame 24. As a result, when the first housing 10 and the second housing 12 are closed with the nanotape NT sandwiched between them, the left and right ends of the nanotape NT corresponding to the first mounting frame 24 and the second mounting frame 40 are firmly pressed against each other.

[0026] Guides 48a and 48b are arranged symmetrically along the front edge of the second mounting frame 40 with respect to the center in the left-right direction. The guides 48a and 48b are L-shaped plate-like members, with one end extending from the second opposing surface 20 and the other end positioned within the second mounting frame 40 when viewed from above. Therefore, a gap CL is provided between the guides 48a and 48b and the second mounting frame 40 when viewed from the left or right. The end of the nanotape NT is sandwiched in the gap CL. The vertical length of the gap CL depends on the thickness of the nanotape NT used. The guides 48a and 48b fit into the guide holes 34a and 34b, respectively, when the first housing 10 and the second housing 12 are closed. As a result, when the first housing 10 and the second housing 12 are closed, the first mounting frame 24 and the second mounting frame 40 abut against each other so as to overlap.

[0027] Guide holes 50a and 50b are provided on either side of guide 48a, and guide holes 50c and 50d are provided on either side of guide 48b. In other words, from left to right, the guide holes 50a, guide 48a, guide hole 50b, guide hole 50c, guide 48b, and guide hole 50d are aligned in a row. When the first housing 10 and the second housing 12 are closed, the guide holes 50a, 50b, 50c, and 50d fit into the guides 32a, 32b, 32c, and 32d, respectively. As a result, when the first housing 10 and the second housing 12 are closed, the first mounting frame 24 and the second mounting frame 40 abut against each other so as to overlap each other.

[0028] A second receiving groove 52 is provided at the front end of the second opposing surface 20 in the center in the left-right direction. The second receiving groove 52 extends from the rear end of the second opposing surface 20, via the second mounting frame 40 and the second planar recess 42, to the second hemispherical recess 44. A nozzle guide 54 attached to the nozzle 16 is inserted into the nozzle mounting portion 56. The second receiving groove 52 is recessed to accommodate approximately the lower half of the nozzle 16. More specifically, the second receiving groove 52 has a shape that fits approximately the lower half of the nozzle 16 so that the first opposing surface 18 and the second opposing surface 20 come into contact when the first housing 10 and the second housing 12 are closed. As a result, the first mounting frame 24 and the second mounting frame 40 abut against each other so that they overlap when the first housing 10 and the second housing 12 are closed.

[0029] The first housing 10 and the second housing 12 are rotatably connected by hinges 14L and 14R. When the first side surface 22 and the second side surface 38 face each other, the first housing 10 and the second housing 12 are in an open state. On the other hand, when the first opposing surface 18 and the second opposing surface 20 overlap each other, the first housing 10 and the second housing 12 are in a closed state. The first housing 10 and the second housing 12 can be freely opened and closed by the hinges 14L and 14R.

[0030] More specifically, the hinges 14L and 14R connect the first housing 10 and the second housing 12 so that the first housing 10 and the second housing 12 can rotate about a rotation center axis Ax. The hinge 14L connects the lower left corner of the first housing 10 and the upper left corner of the second housing 12. The hinge 14R connects the lower right corner of the first housing 10 and the upper right corner of the second housing 12. The hinges 14L and 14R have cylindrical shafts 14L1 and 14R1 supported by bearings 14L2 and 14R2, respectively.

[0031] The nozzle 16 is detachably attached to the second housing 12. Specifically, a nozzle guide 54 attached to a nozzle guide fitting portion 16b (described later) is attached to a nozzle mounting portion 56, and the lower half of the nozzle 16 is fitted into the second receiving groove 52.

[0032] The nozzle 16 is a cylindrical member that extends in the front-rear direction from the outside of the second housing 12, via the second mounting frame 40 and the second flat recess 42, to the second hemispherical recess 44. Specifically, as shown in Fig. 4, the nozzle 16 includes a cylinder connecting portion 16a, a nozzle guide fitting portion 16b, and an air inlet 16c.

[0033] As shown in Figure 2, the front end of the nozzle 16 protrudes forward from the front end of the second housing 12 at the center in the left-right direction. A cylinder connecting portion 16a of the nozzle 16, which extends from the front end to the attachment position of a nozzle guide 54 (described later), is cylindrical. The outer diameter of the cylinder connecting portion 16a is slightly larger than the inner diameter of a circular hole 54a (described later). A screw 16as is machined into the front end of the cylinder connecting portion 16a for connection to a cylinder SD that pumps air.

[0034] The air inlet 16c of the nozzle 16, which extends from the second mounting frame 40 through the second planar recess 42 to the inside of the second hemispherical recess 44, has a hollow diamond-shaped cross section perpendicular to the front-rear direction. This diamond is flattened in the vertical direction. More specifically, the long side of the diagonal extends left-right and the short side extends up-down. The long side of the diagonal is smaller than the inner diameter of the circular hole 54a, which will be described later. This reduces the vertical length of the unbonded portion of the nanotape NT around the air inlet 16c that occurs when the air inlet 16c is sandwiched between the nanotape NT. This makes it easier to quickly close the hole (the unbonded portion of the nanotape NT) that occurs after the nozzle 16 is removed from the nanotape NT.

[0035] The nozzle guide fitting portion 16b of the nozzle 16, which is located between the cylinder connecting portion 16a and the air inlet 16c, has a cylindrical shape. A nozzle guide 54 is attached to the nozzle guide fitting portion 16b. The nozzle guide 54 is a plate-like member that has a front main surface and a rear main surface and extends in the vertical direction. More specifically, the nozzle guide 54 has a generally rectangular shape with the longitudinal direction extending in the vertical direction when viewed from the front. A circular hole 54a is provided that penetrates the front main surface and the rear main surface. The inner diameter of the circular hole 54a is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the nozzle guide fitting portion 16b. Therefore, the nozzle guide 54 is attached to the nozzle guide fitting portion 16b by inserting the air inlet 16c through the circular hole 54a and inserting the nozzle guide 54 so that it abuts against the cylinder connecting portion 16a.

[0036] The nozzle mounting part 56 supports the nozzle guide 54 from the left and right so that the nozzle guide 54 can slide up and down, and is housed inside the second housing 12. Specifically, the nozzle mounting part 56 is composed of guide rails 56L, 56R that extend up and down with the nozzle guide 54 sandwiched therebetween, and a groove 56D.

[0037] More specifically, the guide rails 56L, 56R extend upright from the second opposing surface 20. The guide rails 56L, 56R are positioned symmetrically with respect to the nozzle guide 54. When viewed from above, the guide rail 56L is U-shaped with the opening 56L1 located on the right. When viewed from above, the guide rail 56R is U-shaped with the opening 56R1 located on the left. Therefore, the openings 56L1 and 56R1 face each other across the nozzle guide 54. The left end of the nozzle guide 54 is fitted into the opening 56L1, and the right end of the nozzle guide 54 is fitted into the opening 56R1. The groove 56D has a concave shape and extends from the lower ends of the guide rails 56L, 56R into the interior of the second housing 12. The groove 56D accommodates the nozzle guide 54, supported by the guide rails 56L, 56R, within the interior of the second housing 12. The upper end of the nozzle guide 54 is located above the upper ends of the guide rails 56L and 56R.

[0038] [Creating a balloon] The balloon making tool 1 described above is used as follows. First, as shown in FIG. 9 , a user cuts a length of commercially available nanotape NT wound in a roll according to the balloon BL to be made using scissors SC or a cutter. The user can cut the nanotape NT to an appropriate length by cutting it along the scale guide 58. The scale guide 58 is a plate-like member having a rectangular frame shape. The longitudinal length of the scale guide 58 is approximately equal to the sum of the longitudinal lengths of the first mounting frame 24 and the second mounting frame 40. In other words, the scale guide 58 has a rectangular shape with long sides that are approximately twice the longitudinal length of the first mounting frame 24 or the second mounting frame 40. Specifically, a user can easily cut a length of commercially available nanotape NT wound in a roll that can be comfortably placed in the first mounting frame 24 or the second mounting frame 40. Furthermore, one of the outer edges along the short side of the scale guide 58 may have a blade capable of cutting the nanotape NT.

[0039] In the balloon making tool 1, the nozzle 16 is removed from the nozzle mounting part 56. The user peels off the release paper from one side of the cut nanotape NT. The user places the nanotape NT along the first mounting frame 24 and the second mounting frame 40, with the other side with the release paper facing downward. In other words, the nanotape NT is placed on the first mounting frame 24 and the second mounting frame 40 with the side from which the release paper has been peeled facing upward. As shown in FIG. 5, the front end of the nanotape NT is sandwiched between the guides 48a, 48b and the second mounting frame 40. The rear end of the nanotape NT is sandwiched between the guides 32a, 32b, 32c, 32d and the first mounting frame 24.

[0040] Next, the user attaches the nozzle 16 to the nozzle mounting portion 56. Specifically, the user aligns the left end of the nozzle guide 54 with the opening 56L1 of the guide rail 56L and the right end of the nozzle guide 54 with the opening 56R1 of the guide rail 56R, and then inserts the nozzle guide 54 downward. In this way, the air inlet 16c is placed on the nano tape NT corresponding to the second mounting frame 40. The air inlet 16c is located within the second hemispherical recess 44.

[0041] Furthermore, the user sprinkles decorative materials DC such as plastic beads or flakes on the upper surface (the surface from which the release paper has been peeled off) of the nanotape NT corresponding to the first hemispherical recess 28 and the second hemispherical recess 44. When the nanotape NT is folded, the presence of the decorative materials DC makes it easier to form a space SP inside, and at the same time, creates the decorative effect of a balloon BL.

[0042] The user folds the balloon-making tool 1 in the direction of the outline arrow as shown in FIG. 5 so that the first opposing surface 18 and the second opposing surface 20 abut against each other. The first housing 10 and the second housing 12 rotate around the central axis of rotation Ax. In other words, the user closes the first housing 10 and the second housing 12. The user presses the first housing 10 and the second housing 12 together with their hands, crimping the nano tape NT sandwiched inside the balloon-making tool 1.

[0043] Inside the balloon-making tool 1, the nanotape NT is folded around the central axis of rotation Ax. The outer edges of the folded nanotape NT that correspond to the first mounting frame 24 and the second mounting frame 40 are crimped. More specifically, when the balloon-making tool 1 is closed, the vertical distance between the first mounting frame 24 and the second mounting frame 40 is slightly smaller than the thickness (vertical length) of the folded nanotape NT. Therefore, the difference between the vertical distance between the first mounting frame 24 and the second mounting frame 40 when the balloon-making tool 1 is closed and the thickness of the folded nanotape NT becomes a crimping margin, and the outer edges of the nanotape NT that correspond to the first mounting frame 24 and the second mounting frame 40 are crimped by the first mounting frame 24 and the second mounting frame 40. In other words, the portions of the nanotape NT corresponding to the first planar recess 26, the first hemispherical recess 28, the second planar recess 42, and the second hemispherical recess 44 are not compressed. Thus, a space SP is formed inside the folded nanotape NT. Furthermore, the folded nanotape NT is compressed by the protrusions 30a, 30b, 30c, 30d, 30e, 30f, 46a, 46b, 46c, and 46d so that the space SP is completely sealed except for the connection portion with the nozzle 16.

[0044] Next, the user rotates the first housing 10 and the second housing 12 in the opposite direction to when the balloon-making tool 1 was closed. In other words, the user opens the first housing 10 and the second housing 12. Then, the user removes the folded nanotape NT, with its outer edge crimped, from the balloon-making tool 1 along with the nozzle 16. The air inlet 16c is sandwiched between the nanotape NT. The user peels off the release paper from the other surface of the nanotape NT (the surface that was in contact with the first mounting frame 24 and the second mounting frame 40). The user attaches the cylinder SD to the nozzle 16, as shown in FIG. 6. The nozzle 16 and the cylinder SD are connected by threading the screw 16as of the nozzle 16 into the screw of the cylinder SD.

[0045] The user pressurizes and delivers air into the space SP through the nozzle 16 using the cylinder SD. As a result, the center of the nanotape NT expands into a spherical shape, forming a balloon BL, as shown in FIG. 7. More specifically, the air pressure causes the portions corresponding mainly to the first hemispherical recess 28 and the second hemispherical recess 44 to elastically deform outward, forming a sphere. Note that, before the air is delivered by the cylinder SD, warming the nanotape NT, for example by applying hot air from a hair dryer (not shown) to the nanotape NT, can make the nanotape NT more easily expand.

[0046] Finally, the user removes the nozzle 16 from the spherically inflated nano tape NT. While holding down the top and bottom of the part of the nano tape NT that covers the nozzle 16 with one hand, the user removes the nozzle 16 in the direction of the white arrow shown in Figure 7 with the other hand. At the same time as removing the nozzle 16, the user presses down on the top and bottom of the nozzle 16 mark on the nano tape NT to seal the balloon BL. The user may also use scissors to shape the outer edge of the balloon BL. As shown in Figure 8, the user can decorate the balloon BL to create a deformed rabbit or similar.

[0047] [Action, effect] The user places the nanotape NT on the first mounting frame 24 and the second mounting frame 40, closes the first housing 10 and the second housing 12, and overlaps the first opposing surface 18 and the second opposing surface 20. The folded nanotape NT then has an internal space SP, and the outer edges corresponding to the first mounting frame 24 and the second mounting frame 40 are crimped together with the nozzle 16 still sandwiched between them. The space SP is sealed except for the connection with the nozzle 16. The user can inflate the space SP into a spherical shape by pressurizing air from the cylinder SD into the nozzle 16. In this way, the user can easily create a balloon BL using the nanotape NT with the balloon-making tool 1.

[0048] The first mounting frame 24, recessed in a concave shape on the inside of the first opposing surface 18, and the second mounting frame 40, recessed in a concave shape on the inside of the second opposing surface 20, are abutted so as to overlap each other. As a result, the folded nanotape NT is crimped approximately uniformly in the vertical direction with an appropriate crimping margin. The outer edges of the nanotape NT corresponding to the first mounting frame 24 and the second mounting frame 40 are crimped so as to prevent leakage of the air filled in the space SP.

[0049] The first mounting frame 24 is provided with a plurality of protrusions 30a, 30b, 30c, 30d, 30e, and 30f. The second mounting frame 40 is provided with a plurality of protrusions 46a, 46b, 46c, 46d, 46e, and 46f. As a result, the left and right ends of the nanotape NT corresponding to the first mounting frame 24 and the second mounting frame 40 are firmly pressed against each other so that the air filling the space SP does not leak out.

[0050] In the central portion of the nanotape NT corresponding to the first hemispherical recess 28 and the second hemispherical recess 44, which form substantially hemispherical depressions, the space SP is likely to expand spherically due to the compressed air, thereby facilitating the creation of the balloon BL.

[0051] By using the scale guide 58, a user can cut off an appropriate length of nanotape NT from a commercially available roll of nanotape NT depending on the balloon BL to be made. One end of the cut nanotape NT is then sandwiched between the first mounting frame 24 and the guides 32a, 32b, 32c, and 32d, and the other end is sandwiched between the second mounting frame 40 and the guides 48a and 48b. In this way, a user can easily mount the nanotape NT on the first mounting frame 24 and the second mounting frame 40.

[0052] The above-described embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be embodied in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. The embodiments and modifications of the present invention are included within the scope and spirit of the present invention, and are also included in the scope of the inventions and their equivalents as defined in the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0053] 1: Balloon making equipment 14R, 14L: Hinge 10: First housing 16: Nozzle 12: Second cabinet

Claims

1. Two housings joined by a hinge so that their opposing surfaces, each having a recess on the inside, overlap each other; a nozzle detachably sandwiched between the two housings, One end of the nozzle is located in the recess, and the other end is detachably connected to a cylinder capable of pumping air. Balloon making equipment.

2. a mounting frame that is positioned so as to surround the recess and is recessed from the opposing surface so as to be positioned between the opposing surface and the recess; The balloon making tool according to claim 1.

3. The recessed portion includes a planar recessed portion and a substantially hemispherical recessed portion that is further recessed from the planar recessed portion. The balloon making tool according to claim 2.

4. A plurality of protrusions are provided protruding upward from the mounting frame. The balloon making tool according to claim 3.

5. A plurality of guides, which are L-shaped plate-like members, are provided along the outer edge of the mounting frame, The guide has one end standing upright from the opposing surface and the other end positioned within the mounting frame so as to have a gap between it and the mounting frame.

5. The balloon making tool according to claim 4.

6. A balloon making tool according to any one of claims 1 to 5, comprising: a rectangular scale guide having a long side approximately twice the length of the mounting frame in the longitudinal direction. Balloon making equipment set.

Images