Improved balloon garland kit and method for use

Abstract

An improved balloon garland kit and method for use is disclosed. The improved balloon garland kit includes three different sizes of ballons, tying pieces, and a pattern. The balloons are arranged according to the pattern to create an aesthetically pleasing and easily transportable balloon garland.

Description

Improved Balloon Garland Kit and Method for Use

[0001] This application claims priority to US Provisional Patent Application Number 63 / 541 ,643 entitled “Improved Balloon Garland Kit” which is hereby incorporated in its entirety, including any appendixes, as if fully set forth herein.[2] FIELD[3] The current invention is an improved balloon garland kit and method for use.[4] BACKGROUND[5] Balloon garland kits are becoming more and more popular for use at parties and other events. It has become desirable for individuals to be able to create balloon garland decorations and arches on site at the event, or prior to the event and then be transported to the event. The ease of set up and transport of the balloon garlands, along with an aesthetically desirable effect, is desired.[6] Events, including but not limited to, at home birthday parties, school events, weddings, high end fundraisers, and businesses use balloon garlands as decorations. These balloon garlands can be used in many ways including being hung, suspended, or set up as arches. It is important that these garlands be made in such a way that they withstand the conditions in which they are placed (i.e. wind, sun, rain, etc.) and maintain their shape and appeal prior to and during the event. Moreover, it may be preferred thatbecause of their size, the garlands be constructed at the event site. Therefore, it is desirable that the garlands be easy to put together, manipulate, and break down.[7] It is also important that the arrangement and sizes of the balloons are aesthetically pleasing. The pattern and the balloon sizes are important in this regard. The pattern of the balloons and their sizes makes for a pleasing look to the eye.[8] The current balloon garland kits on the market are not easy to assemble, transport, store, or maintain. The current balloon kits contain plastic strips with holes in which the balloons are inserted. These plastic strips and associated holes do not properly secure the balloons. For example, when the current balloon garland kits are used, and their balloon garlands are hung or transported, the balloons fall out of the strips causing the garlands to fall apart. In addition, the aesthetic design of the current balloon garland kits appears not to be professional. The aesthetics of the current balloon garland kits are not such that a user can easily put them together in a way that an end product appears professionally made.[9] In addition, the current balloon garland kits include inexpensive, weak, and small balloons. Moreover, the current kits include balloons where the plastic is not biodegradable and is harmful to the environment. The current kits do not provide the elements of the current invention that allow for the desired results.

[0010] SUMMARY

[0011] The present invention comprises a kit and method for creating a balloon garland. The kit comprises at least one first size balloon, at least one second size balloon, and at least one third size balloon wherein the ratio of a diameter of the first size balloon, when inflated, to a diameter of the third size balloon, when inflated, is in a range of 1 to 2to 1 to 4, and a diameter of the second size balloon, when inflated, is between the ratio range of the first size balloon and the third size balloon. The kit also includes at least one stretchable tying piece and a pattern. The balloon garland kit can be used to create a balloon garland.

[0012] It is an object of the invention to provide a specific, aesthetic pattern with differing sizes of balloons arranged in a specific way to create a balloon garland.

[0013] It is a further object of the invention to provide a balloon garland kit where the balloons are attached to each other with ties allowing the garland to be transported and displayed without the balloons becoming detached.

[0014] It is a further object of the invention to provide a balloon garland kit wherein the balloons are biodegradable, and, preferably, are made of strong, biodegradable latex.

[0015] It is a further object of the invention to provide a method of creating a balloon garland following a pattern.

[0016] The method, overall operation, and technical characteristics of the present invention will become apparent with the detailed description of preferred embodiments and the illustration of the related drawings herein.

[0017] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] Fig. 1 shows a preferable balloon garland created from a balloon garland kit.

[0019] Fig. 2 shows the preferable pattern of the balloon garland.

[0020] Fig. 3 shows a top cross section view of preferable balloon sizes included in the balloon garland kit.

[0021] Fig. 4 shows a side view of a single preferable generic size balloon.

[0022] Fig. 5 shows a flow chart of a preferable method to create a balloon garland.

[0023] DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] The present invention relates to a balloon garland kit and method for use. As seen in Figs. 1-5, in one preferred embodiment, balloon garland 100 comprises balloons of at least three different sizes 105, 110, and 115 coupled together in a specific pattern 200 to create an aesthetically pleasing, easy to assemble and transport balloon garland 100.

[0025] Fig. 1 illustrates a preferred embodiment of a balloon garland 100 with three different sizes of balloons 105, 110, and 115. These balloons 105, 110, and 115 (shown in Fig. 3) are grouped in a specific pattern 200 (shown in Fig. 2) to create an aesthetically pleasing design. In the preferred embodiment, the balloon sizes 105, 110, and 115 have a ratio of a diameter of the first size balloon 105, when inflated, to a diameter of the third size balloon 115, when inflated, that is in a range of 1 :2 to 1 :4, and a diameter of the second size balloon 110, when inflated, is between the ratio range of the first size balloon 105 and the third size balloon 115.

[0026] Balloons, in general, are made of a material that expands and may hold a shape when inflated. This material can be latex, plant-based polymers that are biodegradable, foil, nylon, neoprene, or any other material that includes these properties. In the current invention, it is preferred that the balloons are made of latex or biodegradable polymers. Moreover, balloons can be inflated with any gas, preferably, air, helium, nitrousoxide, hydrogen, or oxygen. In the current invention, it is most preferred that the balloons are inflated with a non-toxic gas, and most preferably, with air.

[0027] Balloons come in different shapes depending on their use and the desired aesthetic. In the current invention, round balloons and 260 balloons, or long balloons, are used. As shown in Fig. 4, any of the specific balloons 105, 110, and 115 can be represented by a generic balloon 300 includes a head end 305 and a tail end 310. The tail end 310 has an opening where air can be inflated into the balloon 300. These round balloons 300 are sized based on their inflated diameters. Fig. 3 shows a 260 balloon 120 with a head end 121 and a tail end 122. In the current invention, the 260 balloons 120 are uninflated. Fig. 3 shows top side cross section views of the first size balloon 105 and its diameter 160, the second size balloon 110 and its diameter 170, and the third size balloon 115 and its diameter 180.

[0028] In a preferred embodiment, the first size balloon 105, when inflated, has a diameter 160 in a range of 4 inches (10.2 cm) to 6 inches (15.24 cm). The second size balloon 110, when inflated, has a diameter 170 in a range of 10 inches (25.4 cm) to 12 inches (30.5 cm). The third size balloon 115, when inflated, has a diameter 180 in a range of 16 inches (40.64 cm) to 18 inches (45.72 cm). In the most preferred embodiment, the first size balloon 105, when inflated, has a diameter of 5 inches (12.7 cm). The second size balloon 110, when inflated, has a diameter of 11 inches (27.94 cm). The third size balloon 115, when inflated, has a diameter of 17 inches (43.18 cm). These three sizes of balloons 105, 110, and 115 are coupled together according to the pattern 200 shown in Fig. 2 to create the balloon garland 100. In a preferred embodiment, the three balloons 105, 110, and 115 are coupled together using a stretchable tying piece 120. Preferably,the stretchable tying piece 120 can be any elastic type piece that can extend its length up to 60 inches without breaking. It is preferred that the tying piece 120 is a 260 balloon, but can also be a rubber band, a rubber tying piece, or any other similar type piece, or combinations thereof.

[0029] In the preferred embodiment, the pattern 200, shown in Fig. 2, comprises configuring the three size balloons 105, 110, and 115 into a shape that is aesthetically pleasing to the eye. Preferably, the pattern 200 begins by tying the tail ends (see 310 of the generic balloon 300) of two 11 -inch inflated balloons 110 together to create a pair 210. Next, four 17-inch inflated balloon 115 tail ends are tied together to create a first quad 215. Then, four 11 -inch inflated balloon 110 tail ends are tied together to create a second quad 220. Four 5-inch inflated balloon 105 tail ends are tied together to create a third quad 225.

[0030] Once the pair 210 and quads 215, 220, and 225 are created, the 11 -inch inflated balloon pair 210 is coupled to the 17-inch inflated balloon first quad 215 using a first 260 balloon tying piece 120. The 17-inch balloon first quad 215 is coupled to the 11 - inch balloon second quad 220 using the first 260 balloon tying piece 120 to create a balloon garland base 250. Finally, the 5-inch balloon third quad 225 is coupled to the balloon garland base 250 using a second 260 balloon tying piece 125. In the preferred embodiment, the 5-inch balloon quads 225 are placed throughout the balloon garland base 250 to enhance the aesthetic look of the balloon garland 100 and are coupled to the balloon garland base 250 using additional tying pieces 120.

[0031] In the most preferred embodiment of the invention, the balloon garland 100 is made using at least sixteen 5-inch balloons 105, at least twenty-four 11 -inch balloons110, at least sixteen 17-inch balloons 115, and at least eleven 260 balloons 120.

[0032] In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the balloon garland 100 is created using a method of steps as shown in Fig. 5. The first step 400 in the preferred embodiment includes inflating at least one first size balloon 105, at least one second size balloon 110, and at least one third size balloon 115. As stated above, the ratio of a diameter of the first size balloon 105, when inflated, to a diameter of the third size balloon 115, when inflated, is in a range of 1 :2 to 1 :4, and a diameter of the second size balloon 110, when inflated, is between the ratio range of the first size balloon 105 and the third size balloon 115. In the second step 500, two of the first size balloons 105 are tied together to create pairs, two of the second size balloons 110 are tied together to create pairs, and two of the third size balloons 115 are tied together to create pairs. The third step 600 includes tying two of the first size balloon 105 pairs together to create a first size balloon quad 225 and tying two of the third size balloon 115 pairs together to create a third size balloon quad 215 and repeating until all of the first size balloons 105 and third size balloons 115 are in quads 215 and 225. In the fourth step 700, two of the second size balloon 110 pairs are tied together to create a second balloon size quad 220 and repeating until two-thirds of the second size balloons 110 are tied together to create second size balloon quads 220. The fifth step 800 includes coupling a first second size balloon pair 210 to a first third size balloon quad 215. The sixth step 900 includes coupling the first third size balloon quad 215 to a first second size balloon quad 220 to create a basic balloon unit 270. In the seventh step 1000, the above steps are repeated to createadditional balloon units 270. Next, in the eight step 1100 the basic balloon units 270 are coupled to create a balloon garland base 250. Finally, in the ninth step 1200, the first size balloon quads 225 are coupled to the balloon garland base 250 to create a balloon garland 100.

[0033] In the most preferred method to create the balloon garland 100 the following steps are followed. The first step is to inflate two 17-inch balloons 115 and tying each balloon 115 to the other using a balloon tail end (see 310 of generic balloon 300) on each balloon 115 to create a pair. It is preferred that eight pairs of 17-inch balloons 115 are created. Next, two 11 -inch balloons 110 are inflated and each balloon 110 is tied to the other the balloon tail end (see 310 of generic balloon 300) on each balloon 110 to create a pair. Preferably, twelve pairs of 11 -inch balloons are created. The next step is to inflate two 5-inch balloons 105 and tying each balloon 105 to the other using the balloon tail end (see 310 of generic balloon 300) on each balloon 105 to create a pair. It is preferred that eight pairs of 5-inch balloons 105 are created.

[0034] Excluding the tying piece 120, once all of the balloons 105, 110, and 115 are inflated and shaped into pairs, two pair of the 17-inch balloons 115 are shaped into a quad 215 by twisting the balloon tail end (see 310 of generic balloon 300) of the 17-inch balloon 115 pairs together in an x-shape creating 4 quads 215. Next, two pair of the 11 - inch balloons 110 are shaped into a quad 220 by twisting a balloon tail end (see 310 of generic balloon 300) of the 11 -inch balloon 110 pairs together in an x-shape creating 4 quads 220. Then, two pair of the 5-inch balloons 105 are shaped into a quad 225 by twisting a balloon tail end (see 310 of generic balloon 300) of the 5-inch balloon 105 pairs together in an x-shape creating four 5-inch balloon quads 225.

[0035] Once the quads 215, 220, and 225 are shaped, the head end (see 305 of generic balloon 300) of a 260 balloon 120 is tied in a knot around the tail end (see 310 of generic balloon 300) of the 11 -inch balloons 110 in one of the four pairs 210 of the 11 - inch balloons 110. Next, the tail end 122 of the 260 balloon 120 is wrapped around the 11 -inch balloon pair 210 and the 17-inch quad 215 connecting the 11 -inch balloon pair 210 and the 17-inch balloon quad 215. Then, the tail end 122 of the 260 balloon 120 is wrapped around the 17-inch balloon quad 215 and a 11 -inch balloon quad 220 to connect the 17-inch balloon quad 215 and the 11 -inch balloon quad 220. These steps are repeated in the pattern 200 using the additional 260 balloon tying pieces 120 until all pairs and quads are connected. Finally, the 5-inch balloon quads 225 are tied into the balloon garland base 250 using a 260 balloon tying pieces 120.

[0036] In a more preferred embodiment of the method described above, the 260 balloon tying piece 120 is wrapped in a figure-8 configuration to connect the 11 -inch balloon pair 210 and the 17-inch balloon quad 215. Similarly, the 260 balloon tying piece 120 is wrapped in a figure-8 configuration to connect the 17-inch balloon quad 215 and the 11 -inch balloon quad 220. Additionally, the 260 balloon tying piece 120 is wrapped around a 17-inch balloon 115 or a 11 -inch balloon 110 to connect the 5-inch balloon quad 225 to the 17-inch balloon 115 or the 11 -inch balloon 110. These 5-inch balloon quads 225 are placed on the balloon garland base 250 in different areas based on the desired aesthetic look.

[0037] In the preferred embodiment, the 5-inch balloon quads 225 are attached to individual 11 -inch balloons 110 or 17-inch balloons 115. The head end 121 of a 260 balloon tying piece 120 is tied to the tail end of the 5-inch balloon quad 225, wrappedaround either a 11 -inch balloon 110 or a 17-inch balloon 115 and the 206 balloon 120 tail end 122 is tied back to its head end 121. This coupling provides a secure attachment that is able to be easily moved on the balloon garland base 250. Once the 5-inch balloon quads 225 are in place, the balloon garland 100 is complete.

[0038] In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, additional decorative style balloons can be added to the balloon garland 100 for a more fanciful aesthetic. The additional balloons may be of various styles, including, but not limited to mylar balloons or other small or large designed balloons. These balloons are added to the balloon garland base 250 using additional 260 balloon tying pieces 120 in the same way the 5- inch balloon quads 225 are coupled to the balloon garland base 250.

[0039] In addition, the invention described herein can be created using a kit. In the preferred embodiment, the kit includes at least one first size balloon 105, at least one second size balloon 110, and at least one third size balloon 115 wherein the ratio of a diameter of the first size balloon 105, when inflated, to a diameter of the third size balloon 115, when inflated, is in a range of 1 :2 to 1 :4. The diameter of the second size balloon 110, when inflated, is between the ratio range of the first size balloon 105 and the third size balloon 115. In addition, the kit includes at least one stretchable tying piece 120 and a pattern 200. The balloon garland kit can be used to create a balloon garland 100. In a more preferred embodiment, the balloon garland kit can include a set of instructions.

[0040] As seen from the above description, the present invention creates an improved device and method for creating a balloon garland.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is claimed is:1 . A balloon garland kit comprising: at least one first size balloon, at least one second size balloon, and at least one third size balloon wherein a ratio of a diameter of the first size balloon, when inflated, to a diameter of the third size balloon, when inflated, is in a range of 1 :2 to 1 :4, and a diameter of the second size balloon, when inflated, is between the ratio range of the inflated first size balloon and the inflated third size balloon; at least one stretchable tying piece; and a pattern; wherein the balloon garland kit can be used to create a balloon garland.

2. The kit of claiml further comprising a set of instructions.

3. The kit of claim 1 wherein the stretchable tying piece can be extended to at least 60 inches.

4. The kit of claim 1 wherein the tying piece is selected from the group consisting of: a 260 balloon; a rubber band; a rubber tying piece; andcombinations thereof.

5. The kit of claim 1 wherein the first size balloon, when inflated, has the diameter between 4 inches and 6 inches, the second size balloon, when inflated, has the diameter between 10 inches and 12 inches, the third size balloon, when inflated, has the diameter between 16 inches and 18 inches, and the at least one tying piece is an uninflated 260 balloon.

6. The kit of claim 1 wherein the first size balloon, when inflated, has the diameter of 5 inches, the second size balloon, when inflated, has the diameter of 11 inches, the third size balloon, when inflated, has the diameter of 17 inches, and the at least one tying piece is an uninflated 260 balloon.

7. The kit of claim 5 wherein there are at least sixteen first size balloons, at least twenty-four second size balloons, at least sixteen third size balloons, and at least eleven 260 balloons.

8. The kit of claim 6 wherein the pattern comprises: tying two second size inflated balloons together to create a pair; tying four third size inflated balloons together to create a first quad; tying four second size inflated balloons together to create a second quad; tying four first size inflated balloons together to create a third quad; tying the second size inflated balloon pair to the third size inflated balloon first quad using a first of the at least one stretchable tying piece; tying the third size balloon first quad to the second size balloon second quad using the first of the at least one tying piece to create a balloon garland base;tying the first size balloon third quad to the balloon garland base using a second of the at least one tying piece.

9. The kit of claim 1 wherein the balloons are biodegradable.

10. A method of creating a balloon garland comprising the steps of: a. including a sufficient number of inflated at least one first size balloons, at least one second size balloons, and at least one third size balloons wherein the ratio of a diameter of the first size balloon, when inflated, to a diameter of the third size balloon, when inflated, is in a range of 1 :2 to 1 :4, and a diameter of the second size balloon, when inflated, is between the ratio range of the first size balloon and the third size balloon; b. using four first size balloons to create a first size balloon quad; c. using four second size balloons to create a second size balloon quad; d. using four third size balloons to create a third size balloon quad; e. using two second size balloons to create a second size balloon pair; f. coupling the first second size balloon pair to the first third size balloon quad using an at least one stretchable tying piece; g. coupling the first third size balloon quad to the first second size balloon quad to create a basic balloon unit; h. repeating the steps a-g to create an at least one more basic balloon unit; i. coupling the basic balloon unit and the at least one more basic balloon unit to create a balloon garland base; and j. coupling the first size balloon quads to the balloon garland base to create a balloon garland.1 1 . The method of claim 10 wherein the step of forming the first size balloon quads, the second size balloon quads, the third size balloon quads, and the second size balloon pair comprises the steps of: tying two of the first size balloons together to create pairs, tying two of the second size balloons together to create pairs, and tying two of the third size balloons together to create pairs; tying two of the first size balloon pairs together to create the first size balloon quad, and tying two of the third size balloon pairs together to create the third size balloon quad, and repeating until all of the first size balloons and third size balloons are in quads; tying two of the second size balloon pairs together to create the second balloon size quad, and repeating until two-thirds of the second size balloons are tied together to create second size balloon quads.

12. A method of creating a balloon garland comprising the steps of: inflating two 17-inch balloons and tying each balloon to the other using a balloon tail end on each balloon to create a pair, wherein eight pairs of 17- inch balloons are created; inflating two 11 -inch balloons and tying each balloon to the other using the balloon tail end on each balloon to create a pair, wherein twelve pairs of 11 - inch balloons are created;inflating two 5-inch balloons and tying each balloon to the other using the balloon tail end on each balloon to create a pair, wherein eight pairs of 5- inch balloons are created; shaping two pair of the 17-inch balloons into a quad by twisting a balloon tail end of the pairs together in an x-shape, wherein 4 quads are created; shaping two pair of the 11 -inch balloons into a quad by twisting a balloon tail end of the pairs together in an x-shape, wherein 4 quads are created; shaping two pair of the 5-inch balloons into a quad by twisting a balloon tail end of the pairs together in an x-shape, wherein 4 quads are created; tying a head end of a 260 balloon in a knot around the tail end of the 11 - inch balloons in one of the four pairs; wrapping the tail end of the 260 balloon around the 1 1 -inch balloon pair and the 17-inch quad wherein the 11 -inch balloon pair and the 17-inch balloon quad are connected; wrapping the tail end of the 260 balloon around the 17-inch balloon quad and a 1 1 -inch balloon quad wherein the 17-inch balloon quad and the 11 - inch balloon quad are connected; repeating the steps in the pattern using the additional 260 balloon tying pieces until all pairs and quads are connected; and tying the 5-inch balloon quads into the 11 -inch quads, 1 1 -inch pairs, and 17-inch quads using a 260 tying piece.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the 260 balloon tying piece is wrapped in a figure-8 configuration to connect the 11 -inch balloon pair and the 17-inch balloon quad.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the 260 balloon tying piece is wrapped in a figure-8 configuration to connect the 17-inch balloon quad and the 11 -inch balloon quad.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein the 260 balloon tying piece is wrapped around a 17-inch balloon or a 11 -inch balloon to connect the 5-inch balloon quad to the17-inch balloon or the 11 -inch balloon.

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