Balloon Holder With Air-Inflated Bladder and Tail Lock
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Solution Overview
Problem
The high cost and non-renewable nature of helium, commonly used to keep novelty balloons upright, necessitate a more affordable and environmentally friendly alternative for maintaining balloon stability.
Innovation Solution
A balloon holder with a tail locking mechanism and a support element that uses air instead of helium, featuring a main body with a tail locking mechanism, an elongated member, and a position adjustment mechanism to secure and position the balloon upright, allowing for reusability and easy storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If helium is used to keep balloons upright, then the balloon remains in a standing position, but the cost becomes prohibitive and requires a helium tank
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a holder as an intermediary device between the balloon and the surface. The holder contains a bladder that can be inflated with air to provide buoyant support, eliminating the need for helium in the balloon itself. This mediator transfers the support function from the balloon's internal gas to an external inflatable structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the pneumatic system (helium gas providing buoyancy) with a mechanical system (holder structure with inflatable bladder). The mechanical holder with its adjustable support elements and locking mechanisms provides the upright positioning function that previously required helium's buoyant properties.
2Reliability
If helium is used to keep balloons upright, then the balloon remains in a standing position, but it requires a helium tank and becomes non-renewable
Solution Approach 1:
The holder acts as a mediator that enables the balloon to stand upright using air-inflated bladders instead of helium. This intermediary structure allows the use of renewable air while achieving the same functional outcome, thereby eliminating the environmental harm associated with helium consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameter from using lighter-than-air gas (helium) to using air pressure and mechanical support. By inflating the bladder with air and adjusting the support elements, the system achieves upright positioning through mechanical means rather than relying on helium's density properties, making the solution renewable and environmentally friendly.
3Quantity of substance
If a holder structure is introduced to replace helium, then cost and environmental impact are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The holder is segmented into distinct functional components: a base with locking mechanism, a vertical support element, and an adjustable bladder system. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, making the overall complex device manageable and easier to manufacture and assemble.
Solution Approach 2:
The bladder is nested within the holder structure, with the inflatable element contained inside the rigid or semi-rigid holder framework. This nesting allows the flexible bladder to be supported and positioned by the structured holder, combining the advantages of both flexible and rigid components in a compact integrated design.
4Reliability
If a tail locking mechanism is added to secure the balloon, then the balloon stability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tail locking mechanism is designed to be self-servicing through simple user actions. The user inserts the balloon tail into the holder, and the locking mechanism automatically engages or can be engaged with a simple motion, providing stable securing without requiring complex tools or procedures. The design leverages the balloon tail itself as part of the locking interface.
Data Source
AI summary
There is disclosed a balloon holder for holding a balloon having a tail and a tapered self-closing bladder. The balloon holder comprises a main body having a tail locking mechanism, an elongated member protruding from a bottom extremity of the main body, a support element configured to slide over the elongated member and be positioned on the main body, and a position adjustment mechanism for adjusting the position of the support element on the main body. In use, the tail of the balloon is secured to the main body by the tail locking mechanism and the support element is slid over the elongated member and positioned on the main body using the position adjustment mechanism so as to support the balloon in an upright position.