Balloon Illumination Device with Deformable Housing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Illumination devices mounted inside balloons risk causing injury when the balloon bursts, as they can be flung out and impact people or objects with significant force.
Innovation Solution
The illumination device features a housing with an inner part made of rigid plastics material housing the battery and an outer casing of resiliently deformable transparent plastics material, which reduces the impact force upon bursting by absorbing energy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the illumination device is mounted inside the balloon to light up the inflated balloon, then the illumination function is achieved, but the device may be flung out at high speed when the balloon bursts, causing impact injury
Solution Approach 1:
The housing material parameter is changed from rigid to resiliently deformable, allowing the housing to absorb impact energy through elastic deformation when the balloon bursts, thereby reducing the speed and impact force of the flung device
Solution Approach 2:
The housing is constructed as a co-moulding combining rigid plastics material for structural integrity with resiliently deformable transparent plastics material for impact absorption, creating a composite structure that provides both protection and illumination function
2Strength
If a rigid housing is used to protect the battery and light source, then the device structure is simple and strong, but the impact force when flung out is high causing injury risk
Solution Approach 1:
The housing material parameter is changed from rigid to resiliently deformable, allowing the housing to absorb impact energy through elastic deformation when the balloon bursts, thereby reducing the speed and impact force of the flung device
Solution Approach 2:
The resiliently deformable housing material provides built-in cushioning that activates automatically when impact occurs, absorbing impact energy through elastic deformation before the device reaches the target, thereby reducing injury risk
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the housing is made of resiliently deformable material to reduce impact force, then the safety is improved, but the structural strength may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is constructed as a co-moulding combining rigid plastics material for structural integrity with resiliently deformable transparent plastics material for impact absorption, creating a composite structure that provides both protection and illumination function
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the housing have different material properties - the inner part uses rigid plastics for structural strength and battery protection, while the outer casing uses resiliently deformable transparent plastics for impact absorption and light transmission
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The deformable outer casing minimizes the risk of damage or injury by dissipating the impact energy, making the device safer in case of a bursting balloon.
Implementation Method 1
an outer casing of a second plastics material which at least partially surrounds the inner part and provides a cover for the light source, the second plastics material being transparent and being resiliently deformable
Data Source
AI summary
An illumination device for mounting inside a balloon comprises a light source, such as LED, and a battery power source for the light source, both mounted in a housing. The housing is provided as an inner part of a first plastics material in which the battery power source is housed and an outer casing of a second plastics material, which at least partially surrounds the inner part and provides a cover for the light source. The second plastics material is transparent and resiliently deformable and may be a thermoplastics elastomer. In preferred embodiments the housing is provided as a one-piece unit which is a co-molding of the first plastics material and the second plastics material, and which is provided as two mating sections hingedly connected to each other.