Self-Sealing Balloon With Moldable Adhesive Ring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current balloon sealing methods, such as tying a knot or using adhesive tape, are inefficient, time-consuming, and prevent balloons from being reused due to the difficulty in creating a reliable gas-tight seal and the inability to separate the seal for deflation.
Innovation Solution
A self-sealing balloon design featuring a moldable adhesive ring within the balloon neck segment, which forms a seal when exposed by applying a tensile force, allowing for quick and reliable sealing and subsequent deflation by separating the adhesive staging segment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a knot is tied in the balloon neck segment to seal pressurized gas, then the balloon can be inflated and retain gas, but the sealing process becomes tedious and time-consuming, impacting production efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the sealing function from the manual knot-tying process and replaces it with an adhesive tape system. The adhesive tape is applied to the interior surface of the balloon neck, and when the balloon is inflated, the neck segment is folded back to engage with the adhesive tape, creating a seal without requiring manual knot-tying. This extraction of the sealing mechanism from manual operation significantly improves production efficiency while maintaining reliable gas retention.
Solution Approach 2:
The adhesive tape is pre-applied to the interior surface of the balloon neck during the balloon manufacturing process, before the balloon is inflated. This preliminary action ensures that when the balloon is ready for use, the sealing mechanism is already in place and only requires the simple action of folding the neck back to engage with the adhesive. This eliminates the need for time-consuming knot-tying at the moment of inflation, thereby improving productivity.
2Reliability
If a knot is tied in the balloon neck segment to seal the balloon, then gas can be retained, but the knot cannot be untied making it impossible to deflate and reuse the balloon
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a dynamic sealing system where the balloon neck segment can be folded back to engage with the adhesive tape for sealing, and then unfolded to release the seal for deflation. This dynamic mechanism allows the balloon to transition between inflated and deflated states multiple times, enabling reuse. The adhesive tape remains on the balloon, and the sealing action is achieved through the mechanical movement of the neck segment, providing both reliable gas retention and reusability.
3Ease of manufacture
If adhesive tape is placed on the interior surface of the balloon neck to seal the balloon, then sealing can be achieved, but two planar surfaces must be drawn together which is difficult and wrinkles or gaps create gas leaks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the natural curvature of the balloon neck segment and the folded configuration to create a sealing surface that conforms to the adhesive tape. Instead of requiring two flat planar surfaces to be drawn together, the folded neck segment creates a curved surface that naturally engages with the adhesive tape applied to the interior surface. This curved engagement eliminates wrinkles and gaps, ensuring a reliable gas-tight seal while maintaining ease of manufacture.
4Reliability
If adhesive tape is used to seal the balloon neck, then sealing can be achieved, but the adhesive tape cannot be separated eliminating potential for deflation and reuse
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the sealing system into two distinct components: the adhesive tape that remains permanently attached to the balloon interior, and the movable neck segment that engages with the adhesive to create the seal. This segmentation allows the adhesive tape to provide reliable sealing while the neck segment can be freely moved to engage or disengage from the adhesive. When deflation is needed, the neck segment is simply unfolded to release the seal, and the balloon can be deflated and reused without removing or replacing the adhesive tape.
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
Enables rapid and reliable sealing of balloons, facilitating efficient production and allowing for the reuse of balloons by separating the adhesive for deflation, thus improving efficiency and usability.
Implementation Method 1
a moldable adhesive ring carried by an interior of the tubular balloon neck segment... an adhesive staging segment formed about a peripheral surface of the moldable adhesive cross sectioned profile
Data Source
AI summary
A self-sealing balloon comprising a tubular balloon neck segment extending from an opening of a balloon gas retaining expansion cavity. A bead of moldable adhesive material is applied in a ring about an interior circumference of a neck portion of the balloon forming a dispensed adhesive roll. The dispensed adhesive roll is at least partially encapsulated within an adhesive staging segment. The adhesive staging segment can be encased within a rolled lip bead by any suitable process. The rolling process aids in forming the ring-shaped adhesive. In use, the balloon would be inflated. The lip bead would be unrolled, exposing the adhesive ring. The moldable adhesive would be compressed forming a seal, entrapping pressurized air within the balloon gas retaining expansion cavity. This provides a low cost, simple self-sealing solution for a balloon.